Current Location: In storage
Titles
Feather Fan with Hummingbird
Maker(s)
Maker:
Unknown
Entities
Categories
Description
Fan with a circle of white ostrich and duck feathers, in the centre of which is a stuffed hummingbird.
The feather 'leaf' is mounted on a carved stick, with ivory inlay. With original box with trade label of the Natte sisters.
Notes
History note: Lennox Boyd Estate. Christie's no. 1060
Legal notes
Accepted by H. M. Government in lieu of inheritance tax from the Lennox Boyd Estate
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Allocated
(2015-04-27)
by
H.M. Government
Dating
19th Century
Production date:
circa
AD 1870
Note
This fan forms part of the collection of the Hon. Christopher Lennox Boyd, allocated to the Museum by H.M. Government in lieu of inheritance tax in 2015. The collection of over 600 fans ranges in date from the 18th to the 20th centuries and in type from bejewelled and hand-painted court and wedding fans, to printed mass-produced advertising fans, aide-memoire fans, mourning fans and children’s fans.
This type of ‘novelty’ fan was produced in large numbers in the 1870s. It was popularised by the Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra) who was photographed holding such a fan at a society ball in 1871. As the Emperor of Brazil, Pedro II (reigned 1831–91) visited England around this time, he may have brought a number of these fans with him as gifts.
Components of the work
Leaf
composed of
feathers
Inlay
composed of
ivory
Sticks
Related exhibitions
Identification numbers
Accession number: M.478 & A-2015
Primary reference Number: 205057
Sale number: 1060
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Wednesday 5 August 2015
Updated: Tuesday 26 October 2021
Last processed: Wednesday 13 December 2023
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
