Fan with a thousand faces; China, Canton, 19th century.

Fan of a thousand faces; China, Canton, 19th century.
Polychrome silk and lacquered wooden rod.
Measurements: 45 x 83 cm.
This type of fans, so called because of the application of small ivory plates for the faces, are characterized by the hand-painted country, with large scenes set in gardens, inspired by the ancient Chinese court. Usually a palette similar to that of porcelain predominates, as we see in the piece in question.
During the 19th century, the fan acquired a remarkable cultural and economic relevance. Considered an object of distinction and refinement, the fan not only fulfilled a practical function as an instrument to mitigate the heat, but also became an artistic and symbolic vehicle. Cantonese workshops produced fans of the highest quality, made from precious materials such as ivory, mother-of-pearl, gilded paper and silk, decorated with folk scenes, floral motifs and calligraphy. These objects were highly valued both in the domestic market and in the export trade, especially to Europe, where they were considered exotic and luxurious pieces within the orientalist taste of the time. Thus, the fan was consolidated in Canton as an emblem of the exchange between East and West.