Folding fan, the outer guard sticks overlaid in mother of pearl and gilt metal set with cut steel beads. The paper leaf carries a monochrome etching enlivened with gouache, watercolour & gold paint. The design features a medley of theatrical and musical motifs including classical instruments and sheet music for Figaro’s famous aria from the ‘Barber of Seville’ an opera composed by the Italian born maestro, Rossini. A portrait of the famous mezzo-soprano, Maria Malibran occupies the centre of the composition. She wears a fashionable evening ensemble with a sloping neckline accessorised with stage jewellery including a tiara and headband commonly referred to as a ferronnière. With a gentle incline of her elaborately coiffed head, she adopts a somewhat melancholic pose and reflects the prevailing mood of the Romantic period.