Fan
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
Feathers, tortoiseshell
Dimensions
17 1/4 × 26 in. (43.8 × 66 cm)
Classification
Fans
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1938
Accession Number
38.89.10
Art Historical Context
This exquisite late 19th-century French, crafted from delicate feathers and shimmering tortoiseshell, exemplifies opulent decorative arts of the Belle Époque. Measuring 17¼ × 26 inches when open, its lightweight feathers provide graceful movement, while the tortoiseshellsourced from the hawks sea turtle—offers a warm, translucent glow prized in luxury goods. Such materials highlight the era's mastery of natural elements, blending fragility with durability in a functional yet artistic accessory. In Victorian and fin-de-siècle France, fans were far more than cooling tools; they were essential t...