Fan

Unknown

1876 · ivory, silk, metal, mother-of-pearl · Costume Institute

Souvenir fans were popular accessories in the second half of the 19th century, especially those commemorating important public events such as the newly conceived idea of internatilan expositions for displaying products of the industrial revolution. This example is from the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia. The finely detailed depiction of the fairground buildings is presented in three vignettes; the attention to detail is made evident in the depiction of the costumes worn by the strolling figures. They are up to the minute bustle dresses, appropriately short-skirted dresses for young girls and hip-length jackets for the men.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1876

Medium

ivory, silk, metal, mother-of-pearl

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. William Sterling Peters, 1943