Fan Holder
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
11 3/4 x 3 in. (29.84 x 7.62 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of William Christian Paul, 1929
Accession Number
30.75.861
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Fan Holder**, crafted in silk during China's Qing dynasty (1644–1911), exemplifies exquisite embroidery traditions of 18th–19th Asia. Measuring just 11 3/4 x 3 inches, this small accessory was designed to protect and carry folding fans—essential items for cooling, social signaling, and artistic expression among the elite. Produced anonymously by skilled artisans, it reflects the Qing era's opulent craftsmanship, when textiles like silk were symbols of refinement and imperial prestige. The medium of embroidered silk highlights advanced techniques honed over centuries in China, ...