Fan

Unknown

1855–65 · Mother-of-pearl, paper, gouache, metal · Costume Institute

The ornate designs on the sticks and guards of this fan mix Chinese and Western historical motifs. The birds derive from Chinese forms and the rococo flower baskets and C-scrolls are taken from the 18th century French design vocabulary. the fan is in remarkable condition, especially the sticks, guards and gold leaf This is from the fan collection of Mary Walters Arents, wife of George Arents, one of the founders of the American Tobacco company. The Arentses also collected academic art which is in a similar style and aesthetic as the fans.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1855–65

Medium

Mother-of-pearl, paper, gouache, metal

Culture

probably Spanish

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of George Arents in memory of Annie Walter Arents, 1949