Part of a handle for a fan
Handle
ca. 1650 (made)
ca. 1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This part of the handle of a fan is made by an unknown artist possibly in France or perhaps the Netherlands in ca. 1650. It is of ivory and carved with Renaissance, grotesque ornaments and the half-length figure of a woman.
Elephant and walrus ivory and whalebone are prepared for carving by removing the outer layer, known as the ‘husk’ or ‘cementum’ (see below). The tusk is then sawn into the appropriate shape for a figure or relief. The carver uses small knives, chisels, gouges and files, very similar to those used for wood carving. After polishing, ivory can be stained or partially painted or gilded.
Elephant and walrus ivory and whalebone are prepared for carving by removing the outer layer, known as the ‘husk’ or ‘cementum’ (see below). The tusk is then sawn into the appropriate shape for a figure or relief. The carver uses small knives, chisels, gouges and files, very similar to those used for wood carving. After polishing, ivory can be stained or partially painted or gilded.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Part of a handle for a fan (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory, carved |
| Brief description | Part of a handle for a fan, ivory carved with arabesque ornament and the half-length figure of a woman, possibly made in France or perhaps in the Netherlands, ca. 1650 |
| Physical description | Part of an ivory handle for a fan, carved with arabesque ornament and surmounted by the half-length figure of a woman. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Acquired from the Museum of the Collegio Romano, Rome in 1859. |
| Production | Formerly thought to be German. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This part of the handle of a fan is made by an unknown artist possibly in France or perhaps the Netherlands in ca. 1650. It is of ivory and carved with Renaissance, grotesque ornaments and the half-length figure of a woman. Elephant and walrus ivory and whalebone are prepared for carving by removing the outer layer, known as the ‘husk’ or ‘cementum’ (see below). The tusk is then sawn into the appropriate shape for a figure or relief. The carver uses small knives, chisels, gouges and files, very similar to those used for wood carving. After polishing, ivory can be stained or partially painted or gilded. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4713-1859 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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