Fan
Date1760-1780
MediumPaper (Mount); Ivory (Sticks); Silver (Inlay); Paint; Metallic Paint (Used on Reverse of Right Fan Guard); Gold Gilt Paint; Paste Stones; Micah (Behind Fan Guards); Metal (Hinge)
DimensionsLength: 11 1/8"; Width (when Open): 20 5/8"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1953-227
DescriptionFan with a paper mount and carved and pierced ivory sticks. Pairs of straight, inlaid, ivory sticks alternate with carved and pierced pairs with Chinoiserie designs as well, depicting Eastern bells, buildings, and plants. The guards also depict a seated Eastern figure and bird backed with micah. The designs are inlaid with metallic leaf and set with pastes at the two center sticks and at the top of the guards. The motif details on the inlaid leaf are highlight with metallic gold paint.The paper mount is divided into eight panels with painted scenes of Chinoiserie and European rustics. Each scene is divided by diagonally and horizontally intersecting borders of blue and red. These borders create individual areas for each painted scene that are not uniform in size or shape. The smaller triangular areas are reserved for small floral images while the two largest areas depict Chinoiserie scenes of two men and a woman. Three of the smaller areas illustrate Chinoiserie scenes of children playing. The remaining three smaller areas are of European rustics. One shows a man farming, the other a man with a dog, and the third is a still life with a basket of fruit and surrounding foliage. The mount is bound at the top with a paper edge paint with gilt paint. Running floral designs in gilt paint cover the perimeter of the mount. The reverse painting has a central figure of of lamb seated amongst a tree and foliage within a large medallion that is set left of center. Outside the medallion are large floral motifs.
Construction History:
1. 1760-1780: Initial Construction
2. Unknown Date: Small paper patches added to front and back of mount. Most are found on the back.
3. Unknown Date: Silver and gold metallic paint added to the back of the right fan guard in a simple rendition of the guard designs on the face side.
4. January 19, 1954: Cleaning, repairing, restoring by Ernest LoNano for Margaret Hunter Shop (possibly did the repairs noted above?)
