Fan thumbnail 1
Fan thumbnail 2
+5
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 2, The Wolfson Gallery

Fan

1720-1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The East India Company exported many fans made in China to Europe. The decoration on this fan bears a close similarity to Chinese ceramic design. The Chinese artists who made such items were often following European models, although Europeans often saw the end result as highly 'exotic' and 'oriental'. This mixture of 'oriental' design with Rococo, Baroque and Gothic styles is known as Chinoiserie. Both Chinese and European artists worked in the Chinoiserie style, which became extremely popular in the decorative arts during the 18th century. This is a brisé fan, with no fan leaf. The sticks are decorated and held together with a fine silk cord.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved, pierced, painted and gilt ivory sticks
Brief description
Folding fan, ivory, piereced, gilt, painted with figures and flowers, China, 1720-30
Physical description
Folding fan of ivory, piereced, gilt, painted with figures and flowers in panels.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.1cm (at tallest point when open)
  • Width: 36.8cm (at widest point when open)
Measured by Conservation for Europe Galleries Project 2013
Styles
Credit line
Given by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt and Lady Wyatt
Object history
Given by Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt and Lady Wyatt, accessioned in 1876. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The East India Company exported many fans made in China to Europe. The decoration on this fan bears a close similarity to Chinese ceramic design. The Chinese artists who made such items were often following European models, although Europeans often saw the end result as highly 'exotic' and 'oriental'. This mixture of 'oriental' design with Rococo, Baroque and Gothic styles is known as Chinoiserie. Both Chinese and European artists worked in the Chinoiserie style, which became extremely popular in the decorative arts during the 18th century. This is a brisé fan, with no fan leaf. The sticks are decorated and held together with a fine silk cord.
Collection
Accession number
2259-1876

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Record createdDecember 12, 2003
Record URL
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