Esther Sleepe

Esther Sleepe (1725–1762) was an English fan-maker.

Family She was born to Richard Sleepe, Head of the City Waits (d.1758) and the fan maker Esther Dubois (1693–1773), and the sister of Mary Sleepe Samson and Martha Sleepe. In 1749 she married the musician Charles Burney and had six children, including James Burney, Charles Burney, Susanna Elizabeth Burney and Fanny Burney. thumb

Business From 1747, the Sleepe sisters managed their own workshop on Poultry, London, under the sign of the Golden Fan and Seven Stars, where they manufactured and sold fans and other luxury items. They were very successful. After her marriage, Esther Sleepe was the one supporting her family financially, since the profession of her spouse was poorly paid, but this fact was hidden after her generation, since the Burney family had an ambition to be seen as upper class, where it was not seen as proper for a lady to be professionally active.