Pleated fan
ca. 1840
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Georgina and Louisa L. Schuyler
Accession Number
1916-29-110
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 1840s fashion with this exquisite pleated fan, a delicate accessory from the Smithsonian American Museum's collection of costumes and accessories. Crafted around 1840 by an unknown artist, its pleated design—likely featuring layered silk, paper, or gauze mounted on slender sticks of ivory, tortoise shell, or wood—exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of mid-19th-century America. Fans like this were essential for women navigating the social whirl of balls, teas, and promenades, serving practical purposes like cooling in stuffy parlors while doubling as tools for s...
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...