Pleated fan
ca. 1860
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. George B. McClellan
Accession Number
1935-2-5-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of mid-19th-century American fashion with this pleated fan, dating to around 1860. During the Civil War era, fans like this were indispensable accessories for women, serving practical purposes like cooling oneself in stuffy parlors or ballrooms while doubling as subtle tools for social signaling—think flirtatious gestures or modest gestures of propriety. As part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's costume and accessories collection, it offers a glimpse into the refined daily life of the time, when such items were crafted with precision to complement elaborate g...
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...