One fan, ivory carved sticks. Panel painted on silk showing balloon car and aeronaut. 11" x 18". Metal button decoration. ht 28cm opening to 51cm

One fan, ivory carved sticks.11' x 18'. A ballooning scene painted onto a silk fan made with ivory carved sticks, showing a balloon, its car and two aeronauts. Public balloon ascents began to be held in pleasure gardens after the first successful balloon trips in Paris during 1783. These events attracted huge crowds and led to an explosion of ballooniana, or balloon art, expressed in paintings, prints and decorated ceramics as well as many other forms.