Pleated fan
1840–60
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Samuel P. Avery
Accession Number
1903-1-5
About this artwork
Folding fan with ivory sticks carved à jour with decoration in silver and gilt. Silk leaf with small, repeated flower pattern embroidered in white, yellow, and brown on a blue ground; the reverse is plain white silk.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...