Brisé fan, with representations of classical figures flanking Venus and Cupid

Brisé fan, with representations of classical figures flanking Venus and Cupid

Angelica Kauffmann

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This brisé fan- composed purely of ivory sticks- is a very fine example of Chinese carving. Particularly sought-after in Europe, beautifully worked ivory mounts were sent from China with blank medallions, which could be customized with painted vignettes once they arrived in Europe. This example has been painted, to a very high quality, with a central figure group of Venus and Cupid- amended from a design first developed by Swiss painter Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807)- flanked by flower-bearing nymphs. The painted paper ribbon which further embellishes the fan is original.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Brisé fan, with representations of classical figures flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of classical figures flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of classical figures flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of classical figures flanking Venus and CupidBrisé fan, with representations of classical figures 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.