Brisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and Cupid

Brisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and Cupid

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This brisé fan- composed purely of individual ivory sticks, without a solid parchment, paper or fabric leaf- is a very fine example of Chinese carving. Particularly sought after in Europe, beautifully worked ivory mounts like these were sent from China with blank medallions, which could be customized with painted vignettes once they arrived in Europe.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Brisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of pastoral scenes flanking Venus and Cupid

The fifty thousand objects in the Museum's comprehensive and historically important collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century. The holdings include sculpture in many sizes and media, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and jewelry, horological and mathematical instruments, and tapestries and textiles. Ceramics made in Asia for export to European markets and sculpture and decorative arts produced in Latin America during this period are also included among these works.