Auction alert: Finery and Fans

Festival of Britain souvenir fan

When I read the title of the upcoming auction – Finery and Fans – my interest was sparked. What could that sale be about? 392 lots from the 19th & 20th centuries will be for sale; primarily hand-held fans, but also antique fashion, textiles and other hand craft items.

I’ve never seen this quantity and variety of fans in one place. They’re all beautiful works of art; there are ones made from peacock feathers, some fashioned out of silk. Many others were created by Ann Collier, a world renowned lacemaker.

The sale is being held by Morphets of Harrogate Ltd on Thursday 1st Dec 2022 from 11am.

All lots are subject to a buyers premium of 20% which is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

Please note lots purchased online via the-saleroom.com website will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 4.95% plus VAT of the hammer price. This charge is made by and passed on to the-saleroom.com
Lots purchased via easyliveauction.com will attract an additional charge for this service of 3% plus VAT of the hammer price. This charge is made by and passed on to easyliveauction.com. Alternatively you may pay a flat fee of £3 (inclusive of VAT) to register with easyliveauction.com for an individual auction with no additional internet bidding surcharge for lots bought via easyliveauction.com at that sale.

Morphets do not undertake the delivery or postage of items as in our opinion this is best left to the experts. Unfortunately current legislation prohibits us from recommending couriers.

A campaign green silk cockade table fan
Lot 18: A campaign green silk cockade table fan
In fitted red leather case, and very ornate base, which folds away for travelling, used by the military at camp
Estimate: £40 – £60

Art Nouveau: an extravagant and colourful fan

Lot 90: Art Nouveau: an extravagant and colourful fan
Portraying two robed ladies on a terrace, at dusk, a fountain to the left fed by a gilded dolphin, two peacocks to the right with magnificent tails, the lady to the left wearing a gown which emulates the shading and form of the lower bird, details highlighted with gold sequins, the silk leaf mounted on pink mother of pearl, gilded, carved and shaped, a peacock on the upper guard, and a young man doffing his hat to the centre of the gorge, contained in a gilded fan shaped display case guard approx. 26cm
Estimate: £300 – £500

Peacock feather waterfall fan

Lot 100: A waterfall fan

Salmon ostrich feathers with knotted extensions, in a lighter shade, mounted on faux blond tortoiseshell, giving a span of 66 cm
Estimate: £120 – £180

Orange ostrich feather fan

Lot 108: 1920s vibrant orange ostrich feather fan

Large and showy, the monture of tortoiseshell, frothy feathers with a gentle backward curve, fitted with an extravagant gold knotted tassel with long fringe, overall height approx. 65cm, span 84cm
Estimate: £100 – £150

Festival of Britain souvenir fan

Lot 110: A paper fan commemorating the Festival of Britain in 1951

Mounted à l’anglaise, a souvenir in red white and blue, and dated
Estimate: £25 – £35

Ann Collier: A large and unique handmade lace fan

Lot 163: Ann Collier: A large and unique handmade lace fan

Leaf created by Ann Collier, 20th century, the leaf inspired by a sepia photo of Brighton Pavilion, and worked to commemorate the International Lace Festival held in Brighton in 1986, the bobbin lace background and borders, in cream, are applied with a needle lace building in front of which stroll couples and one child in Victorian dress, the wood monture, lightly incised, complementing the colours of the Pavilion and figures, to the left side the wording “International lace Festival 1986”, the AC initials in brown applied top left, guard length approx. 36cm
Estimate: £400 – £600

Two 19th century pincushions

Lot 225: Two 19th century pincushions

In box form, each with a drawer for holding threads and tools, one drawer marked on the side with the name K Staht, the other with a coloured paper inside at the back with part of a costumed body, both with detail/stringing/crossbanding to the wood, perhaps walnut and burr walnut features, surmounted by velvet or silk cushions for pins (2)
Estimate: £60 – £90

Honeycomb basket

Lot 295: A Victorian lady’s honeycomb basket

In oval form, a work basket for sewing requisites, wood frame, double handle, decorative straw work, height approx. 24 cm, length approx. 29cm
Estimate: £40 – £60

Miser's purses

Lot 317: Four good 19th century miser’s purses

To include a green example incorporating gold metal thread to one end and to the rings and tassel; a ruby red example with green and cream bands, and additional beaded scalloped panels to one end; a navy-blue purse worked with mustard and cream, fringed; and a longer purse in ginger and cream, the cream sections worked with flowers and leaves (4)
Estimate: £60 – £100

1920s and earlier hat stands

Lot 333: 1920s and earlier hat stands

Mostly in turned wood, two very tall, two extending metal bars, 17 in all
Estimate: £70 – £120

Top hat leather carrying case

Lot 339: Deep double top hat leather carrying case

French, lined in red silk, with interior supports and straps, travel destination labels to the exterior, marked in gold inside “isolement complet du chapeau” and “systeme Aeroport” seemingly meaning that as the hat is suspended in the case, air flow is improved, together with 4 period hat brushes (5)
Estimate: £120 – £150

Price Points: Hand fans

Hand fans

We’ve just had an unbelievably hot spell of weather. Temperatures broke records, and getting on with daily life was unbearable. When you’re at home, you can rely on a desk, floor or ceiling fan, but what do you do when you’re out and about? Pop a hand fan in your bag or pocket!

Sitting on a hot, stuffy bus or train is made that much more manageable with a fan to help cool you down. If you’re lucky enough to be sitting around a pool or on a beach – waving a hand fan means you don’t have to get into the water to cool down if you don’t want to.

The watermelon fan is my favourite – I hate the taste of the real thing – but this fan is so playful and just screams hot summer days!

  1. Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan: £0.99, Confetti Shop
  2. Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable: £4.59 eBay
  3. Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan: £12.74, Etsy

shop hand fans

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
£12.74
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
£4.59
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
£0.99
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
£12.74
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
£4.59
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
£0.99
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
£12.74
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
£4.59
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
£0.99
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
£12.74
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
£4.59
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
£0.99
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
Watermelon slice print fabric and wood folding fan
£12.74
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
Portable bladeless mini hand-held fan, USB chargeable
£4.59
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
Chinese sandalwood folding hand fan
£0.99