There are 4 other images of this object. This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions), and as such we offer a high-resolution image of it. See our image rights statement.
See more objects with the color silver darkslategrey grey darkolivegreen darkolivegreen or see all the colors for this object.
Object Timeline
|
1952 |
|
|
2013 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
2025 |
|
Pleated Fan
This is a Pleated fan. It is dated late 18th–early 19th century and we acquired it in 1952. Its medium is gilded parchment leaf painted with gouache, ivory sticks carved à jour, carved and pierced ivory guards overlaid with gold foil, ivory button at rivet. It is a part of the Textiles department.
Title: Swift as an Arrow
The subject of this fan is an episode from the Ancient Greek myth of the Trojan War. Agamemnon has vowed to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia to appease Artemis, whose wrath he incurred by killing deer in a sacred grove. This fan illustrates the dramatic moment when the goddess takes pity on the girl and at the last moment substitutes the victim for a deer.
When folded, the fan resembles an arrow, the symbol of Artemis the hunter. The motif is echoed in the delicately carved ivory sticks. French designs in the early nineteenth century commonly included militaristic elements such as arrows or shields. These symbolized the power and glory of the French regime. The arrow could also reference Cupid and the art of love.
This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Swift as an Arrow.
This object was
donated by
Unknown.
It is credited Gift of Anonymous Donor.
Its dimensions are
H x W: 24.8 x 40.6 cm (9 3/4 x 16 in.)
Cite this object as
Pleated Fan; gilded parchment leaf painted with gouache, ivory sticks carved à jour, carved and pierced ivory guards overlaid with gold foil, ivory button at rivet; H x W: 24.8 x 40.6 cm (9 3/4 x 16 in.); Gift of Anonymous Donor; 1952-161-199
