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Mother of pearl burgau frame engraved and gilded with symbols of love and marriage: kissing doves, bows and quivers, flowers.
Leaf: black Chantilly bobin lace lined with gold colour brocade.
Provenance: Sotheby’s auction 17 December 2008 “Property from Royal and noble families”.
This fan was made as a wedding present for Maria Theresa Archduchess Habsburg Este (1849-1919) for her marriage to Ludwig III Prince of Bavaria on 20 February 1868. The young people married for love, so that the bride`s previous engagement had to be cancelled for this marriage. They subsequently became the last Kings of Bavaria in 1913. On 7 November 1918, Ludwig III was dethroned and Bavaria was declared a Republic.
On a leaf of woven Chantilly lace in the centre are the initials MT under the Royal Crown. To the right and left of the monogram are lace flowers of field creeper. Field creeper symbolises love and tolerance in relationships, these flowers are often assosiated with tenderness and sincerity of feelings. Maria Theresa died in February 1919 after long illness. Ludwig outlived his wife by only two years and bequeathed to be buried next to his beloved wife.
