Fan

Art Historical Context

This exquisite late 19th-century fan, a gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Mrs. William Randolph Hear in 1963, the opulent decorative arts of the Belle Époque. Crafted from luxurious materials including parchment, satin, mother-of-pearl, metal, pearl, and stone it measures 11⅛ × 20¾ inches when open. The mother-of-pearl guards and pearl embellishments highlight the meticulous craftsmanship typical of high-end fan makers in Paris, where such accessories blended functionality with fashion. Fans like this were indispensable for women (and sometimes men) in elite social circles, serving not j...