Dating from the time of French Queen Marie Antoinette, the fan 'leaf' or 'mount' (material part of the fan that unfolds) is made from silk and depicts three pastoral scenes painted in watercolour. The central scene shows a musical group. The leaf is decorated in 'tambouring' (chain stitch often used in couture textiles to add details such as beads, sequins, and metallic threads) with silver thread, embroidered with silver spangles and applied with cut straw. The sticks and guards are carved, pierced and gilt ivory.
Watch as Susan addresses the structural integrity of the fan, reinforcing the back and creating a hinge to allow it to open and close once again. Fiddly loose sequins are reattached and areas of wear are stabilised. Lastly, Susan subtly retouches the design using watercolour paint.
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