Fan
Unknown Artist
1700–1723
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
8 x 12 7/8 in. (20.3 x 32.7 cm)
Classification
Fans
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Moses Lazarus Collection, Gift of Josephine and Sarah Lazarus, in memory of their father, 1888-95
Accession Number
90.2.12
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ivory fan, crafted in France between 1700 and 1723, exemplifies opulent decorative arts of the early 18th century, the grandeur of Louis XIV reign and the playful Regency era. Measuring 8 x 12⅞ inches when open, it served as both a practical accessory a subtle status symbol among the French elite. Fans like this were essential for women—and sometimes men—in formal social settings, offering shade, cooling relief, and a discreet language of flirtation through graceful gestures. Carved from ivory, a prized material sourced from elephant tusks and elephant-like sources, the fan hig...