Paul Hervy, Le Groseillier à fleurs, for Félix Alexandre, Fr - Lot 87

Paul Hervy, Le Groseillier à fleurs, for Félix Alexandre, France, circa 1870 Folded fan, double sheet of cream silk painted with branches of flowering gooseberry called "cassis-fleur". Signed "Hervy" in blue on the right, and "Alexandre" on the left. Painter Paul Hervy worked regularly for fan-maker Alexandre. He exhibited at the 1845 and 1848 Salons. Read H. Alexander, "Alexandre, Fan-maker to the Courts of Europe", Greenwich, The Fan Museum, 2012, pp.45-48. Mute reverse. Mother-of-pearl burgau mounting without decoration. Accompanied by a handwritten card stating "Éventail de la grande cantatrice Hortense Schneider", and tapuscript "Éventail ayant appartenu à " La Soubise ", grande courtisane du 3ème Empire (sic)". A very famous singer of the Second Empire, Hortense Schneider (1833-1920) was also a great benefactor of the Orphelinat des Arts. Height 28.3 cm / H.f. 14.7 cm (stains, cuts and rest. on reverse) In a purple satin-covered Alexandre box.