Sunday, September 5, 2010

Object of the Day: A 19th Century French Hand Fan

One of my favorite pieces in my antique hand fan collection is this hand-painted paper fan. The pierced celluloid sticks have been gilt and painted with delicate roses nestled in baskets. The fan itself displays a romantic scene of courtiers in a formal garden—a fountain bubbling behind them. The woman gazes out at us wistfully as she accepts a brilliant red rose from her ardent admirer.

Because the sticks are celluloid, I would place this fan as having been created in the 1870’s. The piece is in excellent condition having been preserved in a gilt fan-shaped, glass-front case in the 1930’s. I love these personal objects. Just looking at them makes me feel closer to a gentler time in our collective history.





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