Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-07
NOTED COLLECTORS OF FANS
Rare Specimens of These Feminine
Trifles that Represent Fortunes.

NO1 ED COLLECTORS OF FANS.
Rare Specimens of These Feminine
Tri1es that Represent Fortunes.
The finest collection of fans in Eu-
rope belongs to Baroness James Roths-
child. The next most famous are those
of eX-Queen Isabella of Spain, who has
over 500 fans of all periods and styles.
and the Dowager Empress of Russia,
who is constantly adding to her treas
ures. Other noted collections are those
OF the Princess de Sagan, the Duchess
de Novailles and the Due d. Aumale.
Mrs. Seward Webb, Mrs. Sloane,
Mrs. Pinchott, Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan
and DR.. q. D. Emmett can display
respondent Vernis Martin fans: with
carved pearl sticks, inlaid with gold;
fans with ivory sticks inlaid with
canoes and emeralds; fans with tor
toise shell sticks damascened with sill
yer; mourning fans, wedding fans, war
fans and fans which belonged to illus
trious queens long since departed.
In this country Peter Marie pos
sesses the most valuable lot of these
huttering trifes; Mrs. Cornelius Van
derbilt's collection ranks second. She
has some painted by Leloir and Vibert.
One of the costliest trifes in the
world is Mrs. Howard Gould's fan-one
of her engagement presents from her
husband Its price is said to be $780,
600, which easily places the fan in
value at the head of the list of all
fans, past, present and future It's
sticks are of perfectly matched ivory
and each one is worthy a place in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. The
mount is studded with turquoise and
diamonds. When folded it is not as
long as your hand and only half as
broad as your palm.
The handsomest feather fan on
record is that owned by the Countess
of Lonsdale. 1t consists of five wide,
white feathers, the largest twenty
inches. The amber handle has her
ladyships monogram in diamonds. The
bauble cost $1,000.
Of all her beautiful fans, the En-
press Augusta Victoria values most
the one made of the feathers of bird
shot by her royal spouse
An ivory stick fan riveted with dia-
monds, with Maltese lace mount and
much gold thread, is one of Queen
Victoria's fans. 1t won the prize at
fan exhibition given in London, and at
the close of the show it was presented
to her majesty. 1t was made by
society with a formidable name-"The
Worshipful Company of Fanmakers"
Our first lady of the land, Mrs Nc
Kinley, was presented with a costly
fan which formerly belonged to the
wife of Spanish hidalgo; it was given
to her by an American citizen who two
years ago spent some time in a Cuban
prison. He selected the wife Of the
president Of the United States to
whom to make this valuable gift, be-
cause of the debt of gratitude he felt
he owed for the efforts made for his re-
lease from prison.
A fan has been named for the EN-
press Of Russia, the "Tzarina." It is
of pale green silk, painted with Rus
sian violets, with the mounts OF violet
wood.
Cupids playing cats cradle is the
charming painted decoration Of one OF
the Duchess Of York's fans. The white
rose Of York is in evidence upon many
Of these lady's fans.
A court lady Of Munich has col |
lection of fans painted with scenes
rom all of Wagner's operas. And this |
grand dame has a fan on which are
ne signatures of all the diplomats who |
attended some famous congress held at |
Berlin. Countess Oriola has the most
autograph fan in the world. |
t has the autograph of all the royal
amily and the Berlin court, including
hose of Prince Won Bismarck and
Jount Moltke.
A fan was painted to commemorate
he signing of the treaty of Utrecht,
nd is Of great historical interest. 1t
elongs to a New York lady, MISS Fur
ISIS. It is inscribed: "Por ell amor de
4 Pay"
Another fan which possesses histori-
al interest Is that which now re-
oses in the castle Of Monza, near Mi
an, Italy. This precious toy dates {
rom the first century and was the {
roperty Of her majesty Queen Theo- 7
elinda. 1t is made Of leather, gilt and !
ejeweled. and folds in two on some :
0rt of hinges. When open, it is $
ectan gular, the leaves being square. r
ne gold handle is inlaid with gems
Nine. Pompadour had a wonderful r
N. The lace mount cost 10000, and T
took some years to make the five q
sctions, each one containing a medal {
on or miniature, which are so minute r
J to be almost invisible to the naked a
re. 1t is now in existence, broken a
I'd apart, but still shows traces of its h
eat beauty. y
There is a gruesome tale that while n
larlotte Corday, who was a devotee h
the fan, stabbed Marat with one
md she uSad her fan with the other