Objects Catalogue Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Accession Number

2000.130.83.1

Object Name

Fan, Hand

Date

1845-1850

Description

Folding fan; 18 bone sticks with silver inlays and a double-sided blue paper leaf. Sticks have alternating inlays and fretting. At the top of every stick is a silver inlayed leaf. Every other stick has two leaves. Beneath these leaves there are piercings in the shape of stems. Another silver inlayed leaf separates the fretting. Opposite side of sticks do not have inlays. Guards are carved in a spiral style, resembling the horn of a narwhal. The portion of the guard that meets the leaf is fretted with silver underneath. Fretwork and inlay motifs on the guards reflect the motifs of the sticks. Blue side of leaf has three vignettes. The vignette on the far left depicts a family admiring a swan swimming in a pond. The woman is dressed in a pink dress with a sage green petticoat. She holds onto the arm of the man to her right who is dressed in a blue jacket with a white shirt underneath, red breeches, and a black brimmed hat. He leans casually on a thin cane in his right hand. The couple watches their children and the swan. The boy is crouching and extending his right hand to the swan. He wears a brown coat over a white shirt and black breeches. The young girl stands over him in a white dress and a short, blue coat. Her hands are clasped together as she watches the boy and the swan. Behind them is a statue of two cherubs on a pedestal holding up a pot of plants. The center vignette depicts three figures; a women at center and two either children or servants, one male and one female. The woman in the center appears to be of higher status than the others, as she is dressed in an elegant striped periwinkle gown with white petticoat and has her hair done up gracefully. She has a lap full of flowers which she is also holding in both hands. The female child/servant on the left is dressed in a striped pink dress with a matching cap. She is pushing a wheel barrow overflowing with roses. The male figure on the right is dressed in a bright green coat and red breeches as well as a white wig. He is presenting a basket filled with the same roses to the woman in the center. There is another basket of flowers sitting in the foreground. The far right vignette shows three female figures and a male figure in a sailboat on the water. The central female is dressed in a white bodice under a navy blue jacket with a pink skirt. A crown and veil sits on top of her head. She is standing and looking down and motioning to the rower beneath her. Another female, dressed in a blue bodice with a white skirt, sits at the bow of the boat. She looks down at the water towards the rower. The left-most woman is dressed in a white bodice with a rust brown jacket over it and light-blue skirt. She also wears a crown and is looking towards the rower. The rower is in a green outfit under a red cloak. His hair is concealed by a long, white, tapered hat. Between each vignette is a repeating image in embossed silver of two birds in the center of a wreath. To the left of the wreath is a squirrel, and to the right a monkey. The top edge of the leaf is bordered with birds with their wings extended. The bottom edge of the leaf contains repeating images of scrolling leaves as well as celtic knots. Reverse of leaf is white paper and printed in (tarnishing) silver. Center of the leaf depicts an image of two women outdoors. The woman on the right is likely wealthy. She wears a shawl over her arms and a purse sits on her arm. The collar of her dress is slightly ruffled and her hair is uncovered. The woman to the left is likely her servant. She wears an apron over her dress, a cap over her hair, and is holding a young child. On the left and right sides of the fan are are identical depictions of a bouquet of roses, poppies, and pansies. Between the images of the bouquets and the women are images of a smaller bouquet. Each image is framed with a floral border. The background behind the images resembles lattice. The loop is embossed brass. Washers are mother of pearl. Rivet also appears to be brass. Tassel is tied to bottom of loop with a thin blue cord. Top of tassel has 3 beads woven tightly together with thread. Bottom of tassel is blue silk and metallic thread.

Creator

Unknown

Place of Origin

European

Materials

Bone/Paper/Silver/Mother of pearl/Brass

Credit Line

Gift of the American Textile History Museum, originally donated by Elise Morenon

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