Fan
Artist/Culture
Chinese
Daten.d.
Mediumivory
Dimensions19.1 cm (7 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of Miss Sarah Chase
Object number1912.23
DescriptionFan made of 20 carved ivory sticks, pierced.Label TextThis fan is a fine example of Cantonese (Guangdong) fan production in the 19th century. The fan is made with eighteen ivory sticks. Two bands of painted paper decorating the fan divide the ivory sticks into three sections. On the painted parts, a large number of figures are depicted, in which the faces are painted on tiny pieces of ivory and the clothes are made of real silk, pasted onto the paper ground. The shorter band of the paper depicts auspicious motifs such as birds, peony flowers and butterflies, which symbolize prosperity and opulence. The longer band depicts men and women interacting in garden and domestic spaces. Chinese garden scenes were popular subjects among European and American consumers, which not only appeared on fans but also on imported porcelain and ceramic wares. Gardens were where social life took place in China. On the painting, men and women holding fans are portrayed as chatting with each other. In the domestic scene depicted here, a man sitting in an armchair is wearing a formal robe with a red cape and a formal hat. The painting on its whole shows formulaic composition with trees, garden walls, and generic depictions of postures and facial expressions on the figures. The label containing three letters inscribed on the guard of the fan suggests the initials of the owner of this fan.
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