Victorian Style Faux Tortoiseshell And Black Ostrich Feather Folding Fan Appraisal

Victorian Style Faux-Tortoiseshell and Black Ostrich Feather Folding Fan

This is a large, dramatic folding fan consisting of nineteen staves. The guards and sticks are crafted from a high-quality imitation tortoiseshell, likely celluloid or an early plastic polymer, common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The material exhibits the characteristic mottled amber and deep translucent brown swirling associated with genuine hawksbill shell. Each stick is topped with a voluminous, dyed black ostrich feather plume, securely bound to the plastic supports with black thread. When fully extended, the fan measures approximately 74cm across, indicating it is an evening or opera-style accessory. The construction features a metal pin at the pivot point, finished with a matching faux-tortoiseshell finger ring for secure handling. Stylistically, this piece dates to the late Victorian or Edwardian era (circa 1890-1910), a period when large feather fans were at the height of fashion for formal evening wear. The condition appears excellent with no visible shedding of the plumes, no cracks to the celluloid staves, and the structural integrity of the mounts remains tight. The lack of manufacturer marks suggests a high-end commercial boutique origin. In the UK market, such well-preserved examples typically command interest from costume collectors and period film departments.