Hand Screen or Fan

Date1680-1700

MediumIvory Silk Taffeta (Ground Fabric); Green Silk Satin (Back Fabric); Wood (Handle); Silk Thread (Embroidery), Metallic Thread (Embroidery)

DimensionsOverall Length: 18 1/2" Overall Width: 10 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Anonymous Donors

Object number1971-1649

DescriptionIrregularly shaped fan or face screen with a turned wooden handle forming a sort of central stem for the embroidered bouqet of various flowers and their leaves embroidered into the fan front. The flowers are embroidered in naturalistic colors with the exception of the highlights provided by the metallic thread.The fan is edged with narrow trim with occasional sprigs of fringe in various colors (red,blue,yellow) The stitches used are: long and short, laid and couched, satin, and star, using both silk and metallic thread on an ivory colored taffeta. The back is lined with green satin. The leaf of the fan is laid into the slot of the turned handle and stitched to the wood through two holes drilled in the wood.
ProvenanceEx. Coll. Mrs. DeWitt C. Cohen? (tag reads "Dwc/570")