Hand Screen, Fan

Date1750-1790

MediumCanvas (Ground Fabric); Wool (Embroidery); Wood (Handle); Iron Nails (Used to Mount Leaf to Handle), Brass Washer (Used to mount Leaf to Handle); Cardboard (Internal Structure)

DimensionsLength (including handle): 15 7/8"; Width: 9 7/8"

Credit LineGift of The Honorable Irwin Untermyer.

Object number1954-4

DescriptionShield-shaped face-screen or fan with a carboard interior and turned wooden spine-handle. The handle is attached with small iron nails run through the fan leaf and held with a small brass washer on the reverse side. Fan is embroidered in canvas crewel work in flamestitch (also called Irish Stitch, Florentine Stitch, Point de Hongrie). Worked in fine crewels in shaded blues, reds, olive-green, cream, and golds on brick-red ground. The reverse is of heavy, handpainted Chinese paper with floral design in muted colors on ivory ground. The perimeter is bound with narrow black silk ribbon.ProvenanceEx Coll: Untermyer.