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Lot Essay
The present lot is a rare mahogany brisè fan, decorated with eighty miniature paintings by the same number of leading 19th Century European artists. It is made up of twenty leaves and has a mother of pearl washer at the rivet. The fan is adorned with exactly forty attractive images on each side and retains its original pine box. This lovely object was a a gift to the Berlin based art dealer and collector Reinhold van Baerle-Kiekenbeck from his father who was also a dealer. His gallery, Honrath & van Baerle Hof- Kunsthändler Sr. Majestät des Kaisers und Königs Gemälde Ausstellung, was located on the fashionable Unter den Linden. According to family history, the fan was made especially for the occasion when Van Baerle took over the firm from his father around the age of thirty. The Van Baerle's knew many of the artists who had worked on the fan personally and considered them his friends. It seems that Van Baerle also promoted German art abroad. He is mentioned as being Chief of the Sales Office of the General German Art Association at the Chicago World Fair of 1893 where Germany had built an impressive pavilion. Work by many artists who contributed to this fan was exhibited in the 'German House' at the Fair.
Very little is known about how exactly the fan came into existence, but it seems likely that a preliminary plan must have been made. Although there are other hand-painted fans known to exist, an example that has been worked on by so many leading artists is exceptional. The majority of the paintings are by well known German artists such as Adolf von Menzel, Ludwig Knaus, Max Gaisser, Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen, Benjamin Vautier Senior, Hugo Wilhelm Kauffmann, Eduard von Grützner, Emilie Preyer, Conrad Kiesel, Paul Friedrich Meyerheim and Julius Adam II to name but a few. Adolf von Menzel, Ludwig Knauss and Paul Friedrich Meyerheim were all professors at the Royal Academy of Art in Berlin at the time.
A number of celebrated Italian artists are also represented, including Gaetano Chierici, Pietro Saltini and Pio Joris. Other nationalities such as Russian, Swedish and Austrian, are represented by renowned painters like Wilhem Velten, Franz von Defregger and Eugen von Blaas. Spanish, Polish (Alfred Kowalski-Wierusz), Belgian, American, Czech (Gabriel Cornelis Ritter von Max) and Norwegian artists also helped to complete this extraordinary work of art.
Each individual miniature masterpiece is signed by its maker and is representative of the artist's oeuvre. It is possible that the fan was commissioned in order to function as a sampler for potential buyers, serving as a model or demonstration piece for what clients could expect when ordering a painting by a specific artist.
The colourful paintings draw the viewer in. There are many portrayals of men and women, like for example a striking depiction of an old man by Adolf von Menzel (no. 12) or a mischievous-looking figure by Eduard Grützner (no. 23). Franz von Defregger (no. 18) painted a lovely picture of a young girl. There are several beautiful landscapes, seascapes, flowers and lifelike animals such as a butterfly by Emilie Preyer (no. 60) and a threatening lions head by Paul Friedrich Meyerheim (no. 75). Ernst Bosch painted a small dog with a piece of paper in its mouth inscribed 'Hertzlichen Glück wunsch' (no. 6). Just above the head of the laughing boy by Jahn Ekenaes (no. 47) the fan is dated 1885. It is dated again '19.October.1886.' just above the pink flowers which the beautiful blond angel holds in her hands (no. 3), indicating that is must have taken at least a year to complete.
The resurfacing of this exquisite and rare object may be considered to be an important discovery which contributes greatly to our understanding of this fascinating period.
1. Carl Wilhelm Christiaan Malchin (German, 1838-1923)
2. Eduard Friedrich Pape (German, 1817-1905)
3. Gabriel Cornelis Ritter von Max (Czech, 1840-1915)
4. Wilhem Menzler Casel (German, 1846-1926)
5. Wilhelm Velten (Russian, 1847-1929)
6. Ernst Bosch (German, 1834-1917)
7. Gabriel Puig Roda (Spanish, 1865-1919)
8. Luis Alvarez y Catalá (Spanish, 1836-1901)
9. Ferdinand Fagerlin (Swedish, 1825-1907)
10. Otto Kirberg (German, 1850-1926)
11. Gaetano Chierici (Italian, 1838-1920)
12. Adolf von Menzel (German, 1815-1905)
13. Juan Pablo Salinas (Spanish, 1871-1946)
14. Giovanni-Battista Quadrone (Italian, 1844-1998)
15. Edmund Harburger (German, 1846-1906)
16. Enric Serra Y Auqué (Spanish, 1859-1918)
17. Claus Meyer (German, 1856-1919)
18. Pio Joris (Italian, 1843-1921)
19. Vincente March y Marco (Spanish, 1859-1914)
20. Ludwig Knaus (German, 1829-1910)
21. José Echena (Spanish, 1844-1909)
22. Alfred Kowalski-Wierusz (Polish, 1849-1915)
23. Franz Ejsmond (Polish, 1859-1931)
24. Cesare Tiratelli (Italian, 1864-1933)
25. Max Todt (German, 1847-1890)
26. Hermann Werner (German, 1816-1905)
27. Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen (German, 1813-1886)
28. José Gallegos Y Arnosa (Spanish, 1859-1917)
29. Toby Edward Rosenthal (American, 1848-1917)
30. Tito Conti (Italian, 1842-1924)
31. Wilhelm Löwith (Austrian, 1861-1932)
32. Arturo Ricci (Italian, 1854-1919)
33. Eugène Klinkenberg (Belgian, 1858-after 1930)
34. Johan Hamza (German, 1850-1927)
35. Francesco Vinea (Italian, 1845-1902)
36. Ernst Schitz (German, 1859-1917)
37. Heinrich Lang (German, 1838-1891)
38. Max Gaisser (German, 1857-1922)
39. Mariano Barbasan Laguernelo (Spanish, 1864-1924)
40. Robert Schultze (German, 1828-1910)
41. Manuel Muñoz Otera (Spanish, b.1850)
42. Heinrich Sperling (German, 1844-1924)
43. Christian Kröner (German, 1838-1911)
44. Josef von Brandt (Polish, 1841-1928)
45. Gregor von Bochmann Senior (German, 1850-1930)
46. Benjamin Vautier Senior (German, 1829-1898)
47. Jahn Ekenaes (Norwegian, 1847-1920)
48. Friedrich Otto Gebler (German, 1838-1917)
49. Hans-Frederik Gude (Norwegian, 1825-1903)
50. Ludwig Hartmann (German, 1835-1902)
51. José Rico Cejudo (Spanish, 1864-1939)
52. Carl Jutz (German, 1838-1916)
53. Ladislas Czachorski (Polish, 1850-1911)
54. Hugo Wilhelm Kauffmann (German, 1844-1915)
55. Domenico Pennachini (Italian, b.1860)
56. Eduard Niczky (German, 1850-1919)
57. Pietro Saltini (Italian, 1839-1908)
58. Franz von Defregger (Austrian, 1835-1921)
59. Pàl Böhm (Hungarian, 1839-1905);
60. Emilie Preyer (German, 1849-1930)
61. Conrad Kiesel (German, 1846-1921)
62. Hugo Kotschenreiter (German, 1854-1908)
63. Eduard von Grützner (German, 1846-1925)
64. Josi Benlliure y Gil (Spanish, 1855-1937)
65. Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz (Spanish, 1848-1921)
66. Gyula Kardos (Hungarian, 1857-1908)
67. Richard Linderum (German, b. 1851)
68. Max Volkhart (German, 1848-1935)
69. Knut Ekwall (Swedish, 1843-1912)
70. Louis Douzette (German, 1834-1924)
71. Friedrich Johann Voltz (German, 1817-1886)
72. Agustmn Salinas Teruel (Spanish, 1861-1928)
73. Anton Seitz (German, 1829-1900)
74. Eugen von Blaas (Austrian, 1843-1932)
75. Paul Friedrich Meyerheim (German, 1842-1915)
76. Anton Braith (German, 1836-1905)
77. Simeon Buchbinder (Polish, 1853-1908)
78. Joseph Rummelspacher (German, 1852-1921)
79. Robert Schleich (German, 1845-1934)
80. Julius Adam II (German, 1852-1913)
Very little is known about how exactly the fan came into existence, but it seems likely that a preliminary plan must have been made. Although there are other hand-painted fans known to exist, an example that has been worked on by so many leading artists is exceptional. The majority of the paintings are by well known German artists such as Adolf von Menzel, Ludwig Knaus, Max Gaisser, Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen, Benjamin Vautier Senior, Hugo Wilhelm Kauffmann, Eduard von Grützner, Emilie Preyer, Conrad Kiesel, Paul Friedrich Meyerheim and Julius Adam II to name but a few. Adolf von Menzel, Ludwig Knauss and Paul Friedrich Meyerheim were all professors at the Royal Academy of Art in Berlin at the time.
A number of celebrated Italian artists are also represented, including Gaetano Chierici, Pietro Saltini and Pio Joris. Other nationalities such as Russian, Swedish and Austrian, are represented by renowned painters like Wilhem Velten, Franz von Defregger and Eugen von Blaas. Spanish, Polish (Alfred Kowalski-Wierusz), Belgian, American, Czech (Gabriel Cornelis Ritter von Max) and Norwegian artists also helped to complete this extraordinary work of art.
Each individual miniature masterpiece is signed by its maker and is representative of the artist's oeuvre. It is possible that the fan was commissioned in order to function as a sampler for potential buyers, serving as a model or demonstration piece for what clients could expect when ordering a painting by a specific artist.
The colourful paintings draw the viewer in. There are many portrayals of men and women, like for example a striking depiction of an old man by Adolf von Menzel (no. 12) or a mischievous-looking figure by Eduard Grützner (no. 23). Franz von Defregger (no. 18) painted a lovely picture of a young girl. There are several beautiful landscapes, seascapes, flowers and lifelike animals such as a butterfly by Emilie Preyer (no. 60) and a threatening lions head by Paul Friedrich Meyerheim (no. 75). Ernst Bosch painted a small dog with a piece of paper in its mouth inscribed 'Hertzlichen Glück wunsch' (no. 6). Just above the head of the laughing boy by Jahn Ekenaes (no. 47) the fan is dated 1885. It is dated again '19.October.1886.' just above the pink flowers which the beautiful blond angel holds in her hands (no. 3), indicating that is must have taken at least a year to complete.
The resurfacing of this exquisite and rare object may be considered to be an important discovery which contributes greatly to our understanding of this fascinating period.
1. Carl Wilhelm Christiaan Malchin (German, 1838-1923)
2. Eduard Friedrich Pape (German, 1817-1905)
3. Gabriel Cornelis Ritter von Max (Czech, 1840-1915)
4. Wilhem Menzler Casel (German, 1846-1926)
5. Wilhelm Velten (Russian, 1847-1929)
6. Ernst Bosch (German, 1834-1917)
7. Gabriel Puig Roda (Spanish, 1865-1919)
8. Luis Alvarez y Catalá (Spanish, 1836-1901)
9. Ferdinand Fagerlin (Swedish, 1825-1907)
10. Otto Kirberg (German, 1850-1926)
11. Gaetano Chierici (Italian, 1838-1920)
12. Adolf von Menzel (German, 1815-1905)
13. Juan Pablo Salinas (Spanish, 1871-1946)
14. Giovanni-Battista Quadrone (Italian, 1844-1998)
15. Edmund Harburger (German, 1846-1906)
16. Enric Serra Y Auqué (Spanish, 1859-1918)
17. Claus Meyer (German, 1856-1919)
18. Pio Joris (Italian, 1843-1921)
19. Vincente March y Marco (Spanish, 1859-1914)
20. Ludwig Knaus (German, 1829-1910)
21. José Echena (Spanish, 1844-1909)
22. Alfred Kowalski-Wierusz (Polish, 1849-1915)
23. Franz Ejsmond (Polish, 1859-1931)
24. Cesare Tiratelli (Italian, 1864-1933)
25. Max Todt (German, 1847-1890)
26. Hermann Werner (German, 1816-1905)
27. Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen (German, 1813-1886)
28. José Gallegos Y Arnosa (Spanish, 1859-1917)
29. Toby Edward Rosenthal (American, 1848-1917)
30. Tito Conti (Italian, 1842-1924)
31. Wilhelm Löwith (Austrian, 1861-1932)
32. Arturo Ricci (Italian, 1854-1919)
33. Eugène Klinkenberg (Belgian, 1858-after 1930)
34. Johan Hamza (German, 1850-1927)
35. Francesco Vinea (Italian, 1845-1902)
36. Ernst Schitz (German, 1859-1917)
37. Heinrich Lang (German, 1838-1891)
38. Max Gaisser (German, 1857-1922)
39. Mariano Barbasan Laguernelo (Spanish, 1864-1924)
40. Robert Schultze (German, 1828-1910)
41. Manuel Muñoz Otera (Spanish, b.1850)
42. Heinrich Sperling (German, 1844-1924)
43. Christian Kröner (German, 1838-1911)
44. Josef von Brandt (Polish, 1841-1928)
45. Gregor von Bochmann Senior (German, 1850-1930)
46. Benjamin Vautier Senior (German, 1829-1898)
47. Jahn Ekenaes (Norwegian, 1847-1920)
48. Friedrich Otto Gebler (German, 1838-1917)
49. Hans-Frederik Gude (Norwegian, 1825-1903)
50. Ludwig Hartmann (German, 1835-1902)
51. José Rico Cejudo (Spanish, 1864-1939)
52. Carl Jutz (German, 1838-1916)
53. Ladislas Czachorski (Polish, 1850-1911)
54. Hugo Wilhelm Kauffmann (German, 1844-1915)
55. Domenico Pennachini (Italian, b.1860)
56. Eduard Niczky (German, 1850-1919)
57. Pietro Saltini (Italian, 1839-1908)
58. Franz von Defregger (Austrian, 1835-1921)
59. Pàl Böhm (Hungarian, 1839-1905);
60. Emilie Preyer (German, 1849-1930)
61. Conrad Kiesel (German, 1846-1921)
62. Hugo Kotschenreiter (German, 1854-1908)
63. Eduard von Grützner (German, 1846-1925)
64. Josi Benlliure y Gil (Spanish, 1855-1937)
65. Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz (Spanish, 1848-1921)
66. Gyula Kardos (Hungarian, 1857-1908)
67. Richard Linderum (German, b. 1851)
68. Max Volkhart (German, 1848-1935)
69. Knut Ekwall (Swedish, 1843-1912)
70. Louis Douzette (German, 1834-1924)
71. Friedrich Johann Voltz (German, 1817-1886)
72. Agustmn Salinas Teruel (Spanish, 1861-1928)
73. Anton Seitz (German, 1829-1900)
74. Eugen von Blaas (Austrian, 1843-1932)
75. Paul Friedrich Meyerheim (German, 1842-1915)
76. Anton Braith (German, 1836-1905)
77. Simeon Buchbinder (Polish, 1853-1908)
78. Joseph Rummelspacher (German, 1852-1921)
79. Robert Schleich (German, 1845-1934)
80. Julius Adam II (German, 1852-1913)