Fan

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The pierced decoration of the sticks on this fan is unusually detailed, refined and complex. They were undoubtedly imported from China, where techniques for fine ivory carving had been practiced for centuries. The scenes of affectionate family life have a particular intimacy when depicted on a personal accessory. The still life imagery on the reverse leaf evokes Dutch still life paintings.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art