象牙二十摺扇，第厄普，約1785年製

on twenty ivory leaves representing the interview between Alexander the Great and Indian King Porus whom he just defeated  

- Gift from the town of Dieppe to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France for the birth of the Dauphin in 1785;
- Given by the Queen to Madame du Crey, conservatrice des dentelles et des guipures de Sa Majesté;
- Her daughter, Madame La Bruyère (1790-1870);
- Eugène de Thiac (1806-1892), her "légataire universel", spouse of Éliza-Victorine Quentin (1820-1908), granddaughter of Jean, 1st Comte de Ribes (1750-1830); thence by inheritance to Charles-Aimé-Auguste, 4th Comte de Ribes (1858-1917)

- World Exposition, Paris, 1867 (report of the "History of Labor Commission" presented by M. du Sommerard, p. 62)
- Catalogue of the Loan Exhibition of Fans, South Kensington Museum, London, 1870, p. 22, n°166

- Catalogue of the Loan Exhibition of Fans, exh. cat. London, 1870, p. 22, n°166
- Le Moniteur de la Mode, n°44, 5 October 1875, pp. 519-521 (illustrated)
- S. Blondel, L'histoire des éventails chez tous les peuples et à toutes les époques, 1875

Le ruban changé et rompu, quelques très légers manques sur l'ivoire, sur les 16e et 17e brins au-dessus des urnes. Fragilité avec cassure sur le haut du 11e brin, au niveau de la monture en argent. Oxydation et quelque usures de la dorure. Fragilité avec très légère cassure, probablement ancienne au-dessus de la terminaison en balustre sur le 17e brin. Qualité de la sculpture et du repercé de l'ivoire extraordinaire. The ribbon changed and broken, some very small lacks on ivory on 16th and 17th sticks above urns. Fragility and cracks on the top of 11th stick, near the silver mount. Oxidisation and gilding partly worn. Fragility with small crack, probably old, above the top of baluster on 17th stick. Wonderful quality of ivory chasing and piercing.
"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."

According to some sources, this fan has been created after drawings by Joseph-Marie Vien but, despite our research, we were not able to confirm it.
According to family tradition, this fan has been offered to the Queen in 1785 by the town of Dieppe, then specialized in ivory works of art. 

Another fan is mentionned by the Count de Reiset in 1885 in his book Modes et usages au temps de Marie-Antoinette: livre-journal de Madame Eloffe tome II, 1790-1793: this fan would have been offered to the Queen by his brother-in-law, Count de Provence (later King Louis XVIII) together with the following poem: Au milieu des chaleurs extrèmes,


Heureux d'occuper vos loisirs


J'aurai soin près de vous d'amener les zéphyrs


Les Amours y viendront d'eux-mêmes.


The Prince bought this fan from Madame Eloffe, marchande de mode, couturière lingère ordinaire de la Reine et des dames de sa cour.


The fan was given by the Queen to Madame du Crey who was the Keeper of Her majesty's laces. Madame du Crey's daughter, Madame La Bruyère, with no descendant, gave her collection and the fan to Eugène de Thiac (1806-1892) who married Eliza-Victorine Quentin (1820-1908), granddaughter of Jean de Ribes (1750-1830). Their cousin Charles-Aimé-Auguste, 4th Comte de Ribes inherited the Royal gift.


A similar fan with Chinese figures is now in the collections of the Musée dArt, Histoire et Archélogie of Évreux in France.