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Fans of the Eighteenth Century

March 31, 2018 – April 28, 2019

Fans have served as accessories of fashion and utility since antiquity but reached their peak production and use in eighteenth-century Europe. Made from and embellished by precious materials such as ivory, mother-of-pearl, and silver and gold leaf, eighteenth-century fans also featured designs that reflected the spirit of their times. Fans addressed current events as well as themes of broad interest, including biblical and mythological tales and romanticized domestic and pastoral vignettes. Fans of the Eighteenth Century explores this quintessential period of fan production through a selection of examples from the permanent collection.

Image: "The Noble Wedding" (detail), 1715–1725. Italy. Vellum, paper, mother-of-pearl, metal, and jewel; opaque watercolor and carved, incised, and gilded sticks and guards; rivet; 11 in. (27.9 cm) length, 18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm) width (open). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Reginald Rives, 1978.10.5a

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In the News

“ Fans are getting their day in the sun.”
J.S. Marcus, The Wall Street Journal
“ Not only are fans beautiful and practical objects to carry on a warm day, they are the means to a secret language that has been largely forgotten with time.”
Madeleine Luckel, Vogue

Exhibition Preview

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After Nicolas Lancret (French, 1690–1743), 'The Dancer Camargo', reproduction in the 18th-century style, ca. 1900 (after painting, ca. 1730). France. Silk, ivory, metal, and jewel; oil-painted and imitation-lacquered (Vernis Martin) sticks, guards, and leaf; grosgrain ribbon; rivet; 7 in. (17.8 cm) length, 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm) width (open). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Jane Houston and Mr. and Mrs. John Dixon Lannom, 1998.125.1

'Diana and the Maidens', 1740–1750. Netherlands or Germany. Paper, ivory, mother-of-pearl, and metal; opaque watercolor and carved, incised, and gilded sticks and guards; rivet; 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm) length, 19 3/4 in. (50.2 cm) width (open). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd F. Reighley, 1956.82a

"Shepherd and Shepherdess", 1730–1740. Italy. Paper, ivory, mother-of-pearl, metal, and jewel; opaque watercolor and carved, incised, gilded, and applied sticks and guards; rivet; 10 1/4 in. (26 cm) length, 17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm) width (open). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Beatrice Greenough, 1964.89

Mourning fan, 1760–1770. England. Paper, ivory, and metal; black ink and wash and carved and incised guards; rivet; 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm) length, 19 3/4 in. (50.2 cm) width (open). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Reginald Rives, 1978.10.4

T. Ballister (English, active 18th century), publisher. Traveling fan, 1788. England, London. Paper, wood, bone or ivory, and metal; engraved with stippling; opaque watercolor (hand-coloring) and sticks and guards; rivet; 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm) length, 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm) width (open). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. S. Conning, 9206

Here/Now

Fashioning Fans

Fans have served as accessories of fashion and objects of utility since antiquity, but reached th

The Language of Fans

While fans were a staple of the eighteenth-century woman’s wardrobe, visitors to the exhibition