The arms of Queen Victoria, "Honi soit qui... - Lot 183 - De Baecque et Associés

Lot 183
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Estimation :
2000 - 3000 EUR
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Result : 7 000EUR
The arms of Queen Victoria, "Honi soit qui... - Lot 183 - De Baecque et Associés
The arms of Queen Victoria, "Honi soit qui mal y pense", circa 1850-1860 Folded type fan, the sheet in paper painted on a black background of a dance scene in the Spanish taste. Signed lower left "T. Boutry". The reverse side in skin painted with a central bouquet, and golden scrolls on the edge. Mounting in white mother-of-pearl finely pierced, carved, engraved, burgued and gilded. In the center, the arms of the Royal Family of England, modified since the reign of Queen Victoria. Around the edge, the motto of the Order of the Garter "Honi soit qui mal y pense". The coat of arms is framed by the English lion and the Scottish unicorn. Below, "God and my right", the motto of the royal crown, among roses and shamrocks recalling the history of the kingdom. Each strand is finished at the top with a royal crown. The plumes are carved on one of Queen Victoria standing under a royal crown, and on the other of her husband Prince Albert standing under a royal crown. Below, a figure holding a bird of prey, in the medieval style, and a suit of armor. On the reverse, in the center, a circle partially engraved with the motto and the royal arms. Gilded metal clasp. H.t. 29,6 cm-H.f. 13,3 cm (important restorations, and light accidents) In a frame with the form, bordered of velvet. An interior cartel bears the handwritten mention " Queen Victoria's fan ". On the reverse side, label " Inventory/ Drawing room (...) B. Jones (...) ". Provenance: this fan was previously sold at Christie's South Kensington in London, September 22, 1987, lot 81. The sale catalog states: "Presented to H.M. Queen Victoria and then given by her to her friend Lady Charlotte Locker, wife of the poet Frederick Locker and thence by descent. Lady Charlotte Bruce (1817-1872), daughter of the Earl of Elgin and wife of the poet Locker, was a close friend of Queen Victoria. A photograph of her with her daughter, from Queen Victoria, is in the Royal Collections. Correspondence: a fan with a very similar mounting, in white mother-of-pearl and decorated in the center with the great arms of the crown of England in a similar design, is in the English Royal Collections (RCIN 25101). It was offered in 1855, by Empress Eugenie and Emperor Napoleon III to Queen Victoria. See : https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/5/collection/25101/fan-depicting-emperor-napoleon-iii-and-empress-eugenie In spite of their small differences, our fan and the one in the British royal collection probably come from the same workshop of tabletier sculptor. See : P. Sutcliffe, S. Mayor, J. Roberts, "Unfolding pictures, fans from the Royal collection", London Royal collection Entreprises Ltd, 2005, p. 106-107. This fan is reproduced in: *V. Meylan and F. de Pertuis, "Eventails", Paris, ed. Hermé, 1989, p. 136. *S. Mayor, "The letts guide to collecting fans", London, Studio Edition Ltd, 1991, p.64 and p. 66. Expert: Georgina Letourmy-Bordier
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