Hand fan - Textile

Folding fan with Belle Époque taste, kept open inside a shaped display case lined with blue-gray fabric and finished with gold tassels. The fan features a light page, probably crepe or silk gauze according to what the rear label indicates, decorated with small floral bouquets in shades of blue, blue, green and white.

The decoration combines painting, embroidery, applications of light blue ribbon, and numerous metallic sequins or rhinestones in circular, leaf, and flower shapes. The light-colored ribs are completed at the bottom by brown-translucent elements with gold motifs. A metal ring is present near the pivot.

The very rounded shape of the page corresponds to the French typology called “forme ballon,” widespread around 1900. Museum specimens from the Palais Galliera show similar construction and decorations in tulle or silk, sequins, ribbons and mounts in horn or mother-of-pearl.

Observable materials or reasonably describable from photographs:
- light, pale fabric, probably silk or silk gauze/crepe;
- floral painting and embroidery;
- applications of ribbon;
- metallic sequins/rhinestones;
- blue-gray fabric and gold tassels of the display case;
- front glass;
- rear metal hook.

Documented conditions
- Sealed display case and not to be opened without intervention.
- Glass intact, with no reported cracks or chips.
- Case structure stable and rear hook intact.
- No visibly broken rib.
- No evident tear observed on the page.
- Normal signs of time: yellowing and color alterations of the fabric, small stains, oxidation or opacification of some sequins, wear and color fading of the ribbons, loose threads and dust or deposits inside the display case.
- The back shows stains and signs of use.
- The examination is exclusively visual through the glass; flexibility of the fabric, hidden stitches, the pivot, or the back of the fan have not been checked.