Fan

This fan illustrates a mixture of European and Chinese versions of the 18th-century Chinoiserie style. The sticks are Chinese and the painted leaf is an attempt by an English or Dutch artist to copy genuine Chinese paintings. It was not uncommon for the fan sticks to be imported from China. European fan makers would later add the painted leaves. The importation of fans from China began in the late 17th century. The East India Company Letter Book of 1699 recorded that '20,000 fans of the finest and richest lacquer sticks' were available for purchase in Canton and Amoy.