Fan
1715–25
Medium
ivory, mother-of-pearl, parchment, gouache, paint
Classification
Fan
Culture
Dutch
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Millicent V. Hearst, 1962
Accession Number
2009.300.2028
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fan, crafted by Dutch artist Carl Gustav Klingstedt between1715 and 1725, exemplifies the opulent hand-held accessories of the early 18th century. Made from ivory, mother-of-pear, parchment, gouache, and paint, showcases luxurious materials typical of high-society fashion. Fans like this were not mere utilities for cooling or modesty; they served as portable canvases for storytelling, flaunted at courtly gatherings and social events across Europe. The delicately painted scenes, featuring dynamic battles with horses, ships, and soldiers, capture the era's fascination with milita...