Fan
Artist
Chinese
Date19th century
Mediumivory with ribbon
Dimensions19.1 cm (7 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of Miss Cornelia E. Warner
Object number1910.34
DescriptionPierced ivory sticks, 20, held together by a ribbon.Label TextThis brisé fan is made with bone sticks connected with a silk ribbon, mimicking the effect of ivory. When the fan was first made, it was very difficult to distinguish it from ivory. However, across time, the blood cells in the bones turn into black spots as seen here. As bone is relatively cheaper compared to ivory, the market price of this fan at the time when it was made might be lessexpensive. This would make this fan and similar kinds more accessible to a well-to-do, but not necessarily aristocratic class. Towards the second half of the 19th century, fans were becoming fashionable items that almost every American middle and upper class women carried to parties or just in their daily life. The patterns and designs on this fan are reminiscent to those on real ivory fans. There are three medallions decorating the surface of the fan, suiting the taste of European and American markets.
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