éventail en nacre par G. Prosdocimi, France, 1878

les brins sculptés et dorés de vignettes de l'Amour parmi des rinceaux feuillagés, la feuille, signée G. Prosdocimi dip. A S. Donato A. 1878, peinte d'un paysage avec moulin et rivière d'après Jacob van Ruysdael (1628-1682), et accompagnée de monogrammes




the sticks and guards carved and gilded with vignettes of Cupid amidst foliate scrolls, the leaf signed G.  Prosdocimi dip. A S. Donato A. 1878, painted with a river landscape after Jacob van Ruysdael (1628-1682), flanked by monograms

very slight wear / loss to gilding, the leaf with slight paint loss alog folds, with slight time stain and puckering.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The landscape represented on this fan was sold during the San Donato sale, on 15th March 1880 in Florence, lot 1040.

Ces deux éventails faisaient partie d'une collection de 19 autres modèles commandés par le comte Paul Demidoff, 2e prince de San Donato (1839-1885) en hommage aux plus belles peintures collectionnées par son oncle, le Prince Anatole, avant de les vendre en mars 1880. Chaque feuille fut peinte par G. Prosdocimi et montée par Jorel.

Paul était le neveu d'Anatole Demidoff (1813–1870), 1er prince de San Donato, dont il hérita la villa San Donato et ses importantes collections et  où il vécut avec sa première femme Maria Elimovna Meshcherskaya (1844-1868). Après sa mort, il décida cependant de s'installer avec sa seconde femme, la princesse Elena Petrovna,  à la Villa Pratolino, appelée depuis villa Demidoff, et de vendre la première. La vente fut conclue en novembre 1881 et suivie de six semaines de ventes aux enchères de la plus grande partie des collections Demidoff. Le reste de la collection des Demidoff de San Donato fut vendue en 1969 à Pratolino, Italie.

The following two fans formed part of a series of 19 that were commissioned by Count Paul Demidoff, 2nd Prince of San Donato (1839-1885), to celebrate the finest paintings from his uncle's collection, before selling them in March 1880. Each leaf was painted by G. Prosdocimi and the mother-of-pearl sticks were carved by Jorel.

Paul was the nephew of Anatole Demidoff (1813–1870), 1st Prince of San Donato, and inherited the Palace San Donato where he lived with his first wife, Princess Maria Elimovna Meshcherskaya (1844-1868). After her death, he decided to move with his second wife, Princess Elena Petrovna, to the Villa Pratolino, later known as Villa Demidoff. The sale of the villa in November 1881 was followed by auctions of a large part of the enormous collection of Count Nicholas, Anatole and Prince Paul himself. The auctions lasted six weeks and included also the contents of Anatole's museum in Elba dedicated to Napoleon. The final major sale of the collections of the Demidoffs of San Donato was sold by Sotheby's in 1969 at the Villa Demidoff-Pratolino, near Florence.