Fan
ca. 1730 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This fan has ivory guards and sticks but the leaves are of mica. The supply of ivory to China came mostly from Africa, India and South-east Asia and was greatly facilitated by the participation of Western merchants in maritime trade between these regions. The Chinese port of Canton became a thriving manufacturing centre of ivory goods.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted mica and paper on carved elephant ivory sticks |
| Brief description | Folding fan, painted mica and paper on carved ivory sticks, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1730 |
| Physical description | The fan is formed of sheets of transparent mica sewn to the ivory sticks, and bound to each other with thin strips of paper. The thirteen sticks are carved in pierced openwork, and the extensions which bear the blades are covered in painted paper. A strip of painted paper connects the mica blades at the base. The plain washer is made of brass. The ivory guards are painted with designs of a tiger, bird and foliage. The same design appears on the paper strip pasted to the inside of each guard. The blades of the fan are decorated with a design in enamel colours, chiefly blue, red and green, of phoenixes and qilin among rocks and flowers. A band of lattice work and floral motifs frames the main design at top and bottom. The blades are also decorated with small fragments of mother of pearl and kingfisher feather appliqué, some of which are now missing. Supply of ivory, mostly from Africa, India and Southeast Asia, was greatly facilitated by the participation of Western merchants in maritime trade between these regions. The Chinese port city Canton became a thriving manufacturing centre of ivory goods. Made for the western market. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label | Fashioned from Nature, 21 April 2018 – 27 January 2019
MATERIAL EXTRAVAGANCE
Fans, used to cool the air and whisk away flies, also served as fashion accessories to convey the user’s wealth and taste. Skilfully manipulated, they could serve as a form of non-verbal communication.
Fans were made of materials from geographically remote areas. The most costly fans were embellished with carving, gilding, paint, metal foil and jewels.
China exported complete fans to Europe, as well as the sticks and guards to make them.
‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ fan Flanders (leaf); China (sticks and guards), 1690–1720
Ivory (probably African elephant), turtle shell (probably hawksbill), metal and watercolour on vellum
V&A: T.22-1957
Given by Admiral Sir Robert and Lady Prendergast
‘Venus and Adonis’ fan
Leonardo Germo, after Francesco Albani (1578–1660) Rome, 1680–1720
Turtle shell (probably hawksbill) and watercolour on kid leather
V&A: 2200-1876
Given by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt and Lady Wyatt
Fan with kingfisher feathers China, about 1730
Ivory (probably African elephant), brass and mica, with enamel, mother-of-pearl and kingfisher (Alcedinidae sp.) feathers
V&A: FE.29-1980
‘Bacchus and Ariadne’ fan
Probably Britain, 1740s
Ivory and gouache on vellum, with rye straw and mother-of-pearl
V&A: 531-1869
Fan with wedding scene France, 1770–90
Turtle shell, mother-of-pearl (possibly Haliotis sp.) and painted paper, with gilding, glass and metal V&A: T.98-1956
Given by Admiral Sir Robert and Lady Prendergast |
| Object history | Purchased. Registered File number 1980/1067. |
| Historical context | Compare with T.221-1959, a fan of similar period, but made of paper with panels of mica set in. |
| Production | Annie Marie Benson Identification, 2017: c.1700; sticks certainly ealier than 1730. Ivory sticks. Paper at the top of leaf to finish and reinforce. Made for the European market. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This fan has ivory guards and sticks but the leaves are of mica. The supply of ivory to China came mostly from Africa, India and South-east Asia and was greatly facilitated by the participation of Western merchants in maritime trade between these regions. The Chinese port of Canton became a thriving manufacturing centre of ivory goods. |
| Bibliographic reference | Clunas, Craig (Editor), Chinese Export Art and Design, London: V&A Publications, 1987, page 98, image 76 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.29-1980 |
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| Record created | February 6, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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