This fan of bone with silk mount is a wonderful
piece of Caithness memorabilia. Bearing the
name ‘Etta’, it belonged to Eugenie Sarah Henrietta Westmacott (b 6 November
1858 d 15 January 1938). Etta, as she was known to her family, married James
Ernest Caithness (b 17 May 1839 d 16 Feb 1902).
The folded view of the fan
shows embossed arms and a motto, ‘I Commit My Work to God’. This is similar to the
motto of the Earls of Caithness (surname Sinclair), ‘Commit Thy Work to God’ (Latin Revela
Domino opera tua). Elements in the arms on the fan - sailing ship, lions rampant, rooster - echo the Sinclair arms.
Few accessories of the
female wardrobe combine functional and decorative qualities as perfectly – or
as elegantly - as the fan. Apart from keeping a lady cool in heated ballrooms
or theatres and indicating that its owner was in the first rank of fashion, it
was indispensable for certain accepted patterns of social behaviour.*
Etta’s fan with its
personalized touches would have been a gift to mark a special occasion. Its
condition tells us it was a treasured memento, carefully preserved.
* Language
of the Fan
By kind permission of the owner of the fan, June B-R.
Photographs and additional information by Tom Sheldon.
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