Fan box
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
12 5/8 × 1 7/8 × 1 5/8 in. (32.1 × 4.8 × 4.1 cm)
Classification
Fans
Culture
Chinese
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Laurent Oppenheim Jr., in memory of Laurent and Amy Oppenheim, 1964
Accession Number
64.273.8b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Fan Box** from 19th-century China, by an unknown artist from wood, exemplifies the refined artistry of Qing dynasty decorative objects. Measuring a compact 12⅝ × 1⅞ × 1⅝ inches (32.1 × 4.8 × 4.1 cm), its small scale suggests it was designed to elegantly store and protect folding fans—essential accessories in Chinese social life for cooling, signaling status, and displaying artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, it reflects the global exchange of luxury goods during the era of increased trade with Europe. Wood was a f...