A BEJEWELLED AND ENAMELLED TORTOISESHELL FAN
Possibly Hungary, Ottoman Western Provinces, or Russia made for the Ottoman export market, 19th century

Of typical tapering triangular shape, opening into a semi-circle made of individually carved and pierced tortoiseshell laths, strung together with a black silk ribbon, the exterior plaques decorated with an openwork parcel-gilt silver plaque with vegetal meanders, painted in white and red enamels, and encrusted with a variety of cabochon-cut semi-precious stones including turquoises, garnets, and pearls, pierced at the base and kept together by a metal chain hoop, 22.5cm long when folded.