Fan

Brisé fans have no fan leaf and are comprised of fan sticks held in place by a silk cord or ribbon. The sticks are often decorated by extremely intricate piercing and carving, creating an illusion of filigree work or lace. The sticks on this fan, with their serrated tips, display a strong Chinese influence. Many fan sticks were produced in China for import into Europe.

On this fan the maker has left an area of the central fan sticks solid to carry a painted vignette. The scene is a music lesson in a garden setting, and there is a suggestion of romance between the man playing and woman signing. Fans were often associated with flirtation and scenes of pastoral dalliance were a popular subject for their decoration. This fan is further decorated with small painted medallions in imitation of blue jasper ware cameos.