Not on display

Fan

1913 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The use of fans as a dress accessory declined greatly after the First World War (1914-18). However, they continued to be of interest to designers and artists. Although most women no longer carried fans, they continued to buy and collect them for their artistic qualities.

Duncan Grant painted this fan for the Omega Workshops, which were founded in June 1913. Fans were first advertised on publicity material for an Omega Workshops exhibition in November 1913. This fan probably dates from that time. It is the most obviously modern fan in the V&A’s collection and reflects the influence of the abstract style in contemporary painting. This fan does not bear the characteristic mark of the Omega Workshops. It is, however, very similar to other surviving fans Duncan Grant painted for them.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted silk, ivory, metal, lace
Brief description
Painted silk fan with ivory sticks, painted by Duncan Grant, made by Omega Workshops, Great Britain, 1913
Physical description
Painted silk fan with ivory sticks and guards and metal loop. Lace at the top and bottom.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45.5cm
  • Extended width: 26cm
Credit line
Given by Lady Heathcote
Summary
The use of fans as a dress accessory declined greatly after the First World War (1914-18). However, they continued to be of interest to designers and artists. Although most women no longer carried fans, they continued to buy and collect them for their artistic qualities.

Duncan Grant painted this fan for the Omega Workshops, which were founded in June 1913. Fans were first advertised on publicity material for an Omega Workshops exhibition in November 1913. This fan probably dates from that time. It is the most obviously modern fan in the V&A’s collection and reflects the influence of the abstract style in contemporary painting. This fan does not bear the characteristic mark of the Omega Workshops. It is, however, very similar to other surviving fans Duncan Grant painted for them.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.260-1964

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Record createdDecember 12, 2003
Record URL
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