Antique European Embroidered Floral Fan with Sea Snail Shell Sticks, 1890

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A beautiful late 19th-century European hand fan dating to circa the 1890s, distinguished by its delicately embroidered floral decoration and … Read more A beautiful late 19th-century European hand fan dating to circa the 1890s, distinguished by its delicately embroidered floral decoration and unusual sea snail shell construction. The piece is an original antique dating to 1850–1899. The fan is richly decorated with an assortment of embroidered floral motifs, creating an elegant botanical composition characteristic of fashionable accessories from the late Victorian and Belle Époque period. The delicate textile work contrasts beautifully with the naturally lustrous shell elements, giving the piece a refined and luxurious appearance. Of particular interest is the use of sea snail shell, a distinctive natural material prized for its subtle tonal variations and decorative quality. Carefully shaped into the fan's structural elements, the shell contributes an attractive iridescent quality while demonstrating the skilled craftsmanship required to work such delicate material. Fans of this type served not only as practical accessories but also as important elements of fashionable dress and social etiquette during the 19th century. Their elaborate decoration frequently transformed them into miniature works of decorative art. Dating to circa 1890, this example would make an elegant addition to a collection of antique costume accessories, European textiles, natural-material objects or late 19th-century decorative arts. Origin: Europe Date: Circa 1890s Period: Late 19th Century Material: Sea snail shell, embroidered textile Dimensions; Width fully opened 382 mm Length of the blades 205 mm In good condition. No chip's or damage . See less