Ivory Fan from the Collection of Van Braam Houckgeest

The fan consists (now) of two outer ribs and 22 inner ribs; at least two ribs are missing. The inner ribs are pierced, the lower part with a 'cash pattern', in which in the center a shield is cut out with against a background of hair-thin vertical lines the initials 'CGVR', for Catharina Cornelia Geertruida van Reede (van Oudtshoorn), the first wife of A.E. van Braam Houckgeest (1739-1801). Above that, against the same background of thin lines, three painted medallions that seem to be hung on ribbons, flower garlands, and scrolling ribbon work. On the middle, shield-shaped medallion a man and a woman by the water; on the two other, oval medallions always a putto, once by the rising or setting sun at the water's edge and once in a small boat on the rough sea under a sky with lightning bolts. On the reverse flower branches. In the tops above the ribbon stylized pierced chrysanthemums. The outer ribs are carved in high relief with flower branches, trees, pagodas and rocks.