Historic Fan Collection goes under the Hammer

The first part of the Arthur Blackborne Collection of Fine Antique Fans came under the hammer at Tennants Auctioneers on 23rd May. This extraordinary and historic collection garnered great interest amongst the fan collecting community, leading to many of the top lots exceeding expectations.

Particularly notable in this sale was the number of international bidders, who totaled almost 40% of the buyers. However, the most competitive bidding came from buyers in the Far East for the strong selection of Chinese fans in the sale.

Indeed the top lot of the sale was a Mid-19th Century Chinese Carved Tortoiseshell Mandarin Fan from the Qing Dynasty, an elaborate and beautifully detailed fan and box that sold for £3,700 (plus buyer’s premium). The colorful leaf depicted groups of figures with ivory faces and applied silk robes, and the tortoiseshell sticks were intricately carved with figures in landscapes. Other notable Chinese fans included a circa 1830-40 Chinese Wooden Brisé Fan also from the Qing Dynasty, heavily lacquered in gold, which sold for £2,600 (plus buyer’s premium); a circa 1840-60 Chinese Fan featuring a Far Eastern Harbour Scene also attracted interest to sell for £2,000 (plus buyer’s premium).

Fans with rare mythological and biblical subject matter sold well too, with an unusual Mid-18th Century Fan depicting ‘Homage to Cupid’ selling for £2,200 (plus buyer’s premium). Attracting attention of Italian buyers was an 18th Century Grand Tour Topographical Fan, depicting the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome – a popular subject matter which helped push bidding to £2,100 (plus buyer’s premium).

The 250 lot sale resulted in a total hammer price of £80,350 with 68% of the lots sold.

Part II of the collection will be sold on Wednesday 25th July.

Illustrated:
A Mid-19th Century Chinese Carved Tortoiseshell Mandarin Fan, Qing Dynasty – Sold for £3,700 plus buyer’s premium
Homage to Cupid: An Unusual Mid-18th Century Fan – Sold for £2,200 plus buyer’s premium.