Folding Fan with Representations of Musical Instruments, Musicians and a Fisherman in a Landscape
Unknown Artist
ca. 1765
Medium
Paper and ivory
Dimensions
10 1/2 x 18 1/2 in. (26.7 x 47 cm)
Classification
Fans
Culture
Chinese with European sticks
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Strong Shattuck, 1935
Accession Number
35.80.19
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folding fan, created around 1765, exemplifies the vibrant cultural exchange between China and Europe during the18th century. Crafted from delicate paper mounted on ivory sticks of European origin, it measures 10½ x 18½ inches when open, revealing intricate hand-painted scenes of musicians, musical instruments, a serene fisherman in a landscape, blooming flowers. Such fans were prized accessories among Europe's elite, blending Eastern artistry with Western craftsmanship in the Chinoiserie style—a craze for Chinese-inspired motifs amid booming trade via the Silk Road and maritime ...