Fan box

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 favored medium for such boxes, allowing for durable yet lightweight construction that could showcase intricate carvings, lacquering, or inlays, though specific techniques here remain unrecorded. Fans and their containers held cultural significance in China, often gifted during festivals or used in scholarly gatherings, blending utility with aesthetic pleasure. This piece, a 1964 gift from Laurent Oppenheim Jr. in memory of his parents, invites us to appreciate the subtle elegance of everyday luxury across cultures. (Word count: 198)