Pleated paper fan, painted on the front in water-colours with a racing scene, sticks and guards of tortoiseshell, Great Britain, late 18th century. Pleated paper fan, painted on the front in water-colours with a racing scene, showing jockeys on horseback

Pleated paper fan, painted on the front in water-colours with a racing scene, sticks and guards of tortoiseshell, Great Britain, late 18th century. Pleated paper fan, painted on the front in water-colours with a racing scene, showing jockeys on horseback racing, and male and female mounted spectators. In the foreground are two boys with a dog. The leaf has a gilded edge. The back is plain. The sticks are undecorated tortoiseshell. The guards are a narrow triangular shape with rounded shoulders, and are carved tortoiseshell, with a spray of flowers on a hatched ground and gilded in places. The rivets are metal with tortoiseshell studs.  Tortoise shell, vellum, water-colour and gilt.