Phillipine fan

Fan with semicircular ribbing of carved ivory openwork and finely carved montures with everyday scenes. The fan leaves, made of paper, are decorated with Chinese scenes painted in gouache with pieces of textile applied for the clothes of the people and small sheets of painted ivory for the faces. The reverse side has a Chinese scene using the same technique. It has a metal pin and hanger.

At the end of the 19th century, following the trend set by Queen Isabel II, Philippine made fans were common and were exported following in the wake of Chinese motifs and decorations which were so popular in 19th century Europe. They are wide folding fans with ribbing of carved ivory openwork and with the fan leaves decorated with successive multicoloured scenes, painted in gouache. The decoration is of Chinese figures in different places such as terraces, palaces, steps and river banks. This type of fan is unusual as fine painted ivory sheets have been used for the faces and fragments of textile for the clothes.
CS: 11220
Unpublished