Fan
1880-1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the late 19th century fans were an essential accessory for women's evening wear and they were made in an unprecedented range of shapes, sizes, materials and styles. This fan is large with a dramatic design to complement the striking silhouettes of late 19th century fashionable dress. The scene painted onto the black silk fan leaf shows two lovers in late 18th century dress by a lake. Romantic scenes of the past were a popular subject on fan leaves. It is painted predominately in shades of white and grey giving an almost moonlit effect that is picked up in gleam of the mother of pearl on the fan guards.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk painted with gouache, with wood and mother-of-pearl |
| Brief description | Folding fan of silk painted with gouache, with wood sticks and mother-of-pearl, Great Britain, 1880-1900 |
| Physical description | Folding fan with dark wooden fan sticks. The guards are decorated with strips of mother-of-pearl. The fan leaf is made of black silk painted in gouache with a scene of a couple sitting together on a bench by a lake. They are dressed in the fashions of the late 18th century. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given in memory of HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In the late 19th century fans were an essential accessory for women's evening wear and they were made in an unprecedented range of shapes, sizes, materials and styles. This fan is large with a dramatic design to complement the striking silhouettes of late 19th century fashionable dress. The scene painted onto the black silk fan leaf shows two lovers in late 18th century dress by a lake. Romantic scenes of the past were a popular subject on fan leaves. It is painted predominately in shades of white and grey giving an almost moonlit effect that is picked up in gleam of the mother of pearl on the fan guards. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.56-1981 |
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| Record created | July 24, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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