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1931 |
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2025 |
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Pleated Fan (Italy)
This is a Pleated fan. It is dated 1730–40 and we acquired it in 1931. Its medium is painted paper leaf, carved ivory sticks with inlaid metal pins and mother-of-pearl. It is a part of the Textiles department.
Title: Studied Flirtation
This fan depicts a scene from Roman mythology in which Vertumnus, god of orchards, seduces the nymph Pomona, steward of fruit trees, by assuming the guise of an old woman. The story is best known from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a collection of myths centered around the recurring themes of love and transformation. Such tales were apt subjects for fans, which could be used as a means of flirtation. Classical subject matter was considered appropriate for social discourse and provided the opportunity to display erudition.
This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Studied Flirtation.
This object was
bequest of
Sarah Cooper Hewitt.
It is credited Bequest of Sarah Cooper Hewitt.
- Drawing, Alexander the Great and Diogenes
- pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, graphite on thick white laid paper .
- Museum purchase through gift of various donors.
- 1901-39-3346
Its dimensions are
H x W: 27 x 45 cm (10 5/8 x 17 11/16 in.)
Cite this object as
Pleated Fan (Italy); painted paper leaf, carved ivory sticks with inlaid metal pins and mother-of-pearl; H x W: 27 x 45 cm (10 5/8 x 17 11/16 in.); Bequest of Sarah Cooper Hewitt; 1931-6-125
