Northern European, second half 18th century
Comprising an unusual Spanish carved and pierced horn fan, the printed silk leaf decorated to the obverse with figures around a fountain flanked by reversing novelty portraits, within titled banners ABANRICOS DE LOS SERENOS, PEVERTE DEL SOL within formalised floral borders with spandrel decoration, the sticks carved and pierced with blue painted figural panels and mother of pearl rivet, the guard sticks with mica painted panels, with inset mother of pearl rivet, the second, possibly Spanish, the paper leaf painted to the obverse with a fashionable lady and bewigged older gentleman within a garden landscape within elaborate bird and foliate gilt floral borders, the reverse with a tower landscape vignette, the sticks with formalised scrolling decoration, the guard sticks with formalised floral vase and turquoise and red paste inset floral vase panelled decoration, with red and green paste floral set rivet, the third fan, probably Flemish, the paper leaf painted to the obverse with a classical figure with attendant figures, within gilt swagged and oval portrait border, the reverse with similar pendent decoration, the carved pierced and engraved mother of pearl sticks with mermaids and a dancing courtly couple, the guard sticks similarly with male and female figures, the last fan with japanned mother of pearl and piquet work sticks, probably French, the paper leaf o the obverse depicting the sacrifice of Iphigenia, with title, the sticks decorated with figures, floral vase panels and vases to the front, the rear with figures and birds, the first 23cm high, 41cm wide, the second 23cm x 42cm, the third 28cm x 50cm, the fourth 23cm x 42cm (4)