Collection Online as of April 1, 2020
Fan
Leaf: gouache on paper; sticks and guards: mother-of-pearl; pivot: gold
Overall: 24.2 cm (9 1/2 in.); Spread: 46.1 cm (18 1/8 in.)
Gift of Helen Humphreys 1960.267
Location
not on view
Description
This folding fan decorated with figures in 18th-century costume dancing, playing music, and flirting exemplifies the Rococo revival in America. In response to widespread urbanization and the spread of manufacturing, wealthy members of American society embraced styles and subjects of the past such as the fête champêtre (outdoor entertainment). This luxurious, handmade object denounces the mechanization of mass production.