Medium: Hand-painted beige silk with tortoiseshell

Date: 1880s

Country: France

Credit: Gift of Ms. Helen Parker

The folding fan had been a fashionable accessory since its introduction to Europe in the 15th century. This one, with a hand-painted design of thistle and bumblebees, is especially beautiful. The subdued colors and asymmetrical design exemplify the vogue in the 1880s for japonisme, or Japanese styles, while its large size is typical of times as well.

Object Number: 80.281.1