Brisé Fan, with Simple Carved Patterning

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, where you'll find this exquisite **Brisé Fan with Simple Carved Pattern**, crafted in the 19th century from sandalwood by an unknown Chinese artisan. A brisé fan is a, rigid type without fabric mounting—its slender sticks are intricately pierced and carved to interlace, creating a lightweight, ornamental accessory that unfolds like a whisper. Produced for the European market, this fan exemplifies the booming 19th-century export trade from China, where skilled carvers transformed luxury woods like sandalwood into coveted fashion items. Sandalwood's warm scent and fine grain made it ideal for such piercing techniques, allowing light to filter through the simple yet elegant patterns, blending utility with artistry. Fans like this were status symbols among European elites, bridging Eastern craftsmanship with Western tastes during an era of global exchange fueled by maritime trade. Gifted to the Met in 1941 by Mrs. J. Magee Elsworth, this piece highlights the cultural fusion of Qing dynasty precision and Victorian-era elegance, inviting us to appreciate the quiet sophistication of everyday luxury.