Pleated fan
late 19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robertson D. Ward, from the collection of her mother, Mrs. Helen Wright-Clark Dawson
Accession Number
1970-58-6
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of late 19th-century fashion with this delicate *Pleated Fan*, a charming artifact from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costumes and accessories. Dating to the Victorian era's final decades, when ornate personal items were essential markers of refinement, this fan exemplifies the accessories that graced the hands of American women at social gatherings, balls, and promenades. Pleated designs like this allowed for compact storage while unfolding into a graceful, air-catching tool—perfect for cooling oneself or subtly conveying messages through the ...
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...