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View: Obverse
Mask fan
English for the Spanish market
1740s
Object Place: England, made for the Spanish market
Medium/Technique
Paper leaf patched with skin, etched, engraved, and painted in watercolor; pierced, partially painted, varnished and gilded ivory sticks; mother-of-pearl; brass
Dimensions
Guard: 26.3 cm (10 3/8 in.); Maximum open: 48.5 cm (19 1/8 in.); Arc: 155°
Credit Line
Oldham Collection
Accession Number1976.179
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionPrinted and painted double paper leaf. Obverse: oval central mask with eyes excised; 2 scenes left: music shop with three men with lutes and flute, woman marked "Este enojaris" (Angry one) beating man marked "Gueramino" (Badman); 2 scenes right : street scene with woman with mask and fan offered "EL DIARIO DE OY" by beggar with staff, fan shop with 2 women with mantillas and shopkeeper behind counter with mask fans; inscribed to left of mask "Al Senor Dn Matheo Juille Gde Dios m ann Sevilla" ("To Senor Don Matheo Juille, May God preserve you for many years, Seville"). Reverse: painted books, music and decorative border. Gold paper binding. Eighteen pierced ivory sticks, painted, gilded and lacquered with baskets, fruit, shells, butterflies, picture of classical ruins, inkwell, music, musical instruments and wreaths. Mother-of-pearl buttons on brass rivet.
InscriptionsAl Senor Dn Matheo Juille Gde Dios m ann Sevilla
ProvenanceBefore 1976: Collection DeWitt Clinton Cohen; by 1976: Collection Esther Oldham; gift of Esther Oldham to the MFA, June 9, 1976.