Chinese Fan

Fan from Canton (China) and manufactured between 1850 and 1860 in wood, silver, tortoiseshell and mother of pearl. The leaf is made of hand-coloured paper decorated with court scenes, geometrical and vegetable motifs. On the reverse, three labels decorated with views and characters can be seen. These hand fans have various names: mandarin fan, hundred faces fan and applied characters fan. Folding fans were introduced in the West from the East during the 16th century. Since then, they became an accessory in women’s attire.