The Mint Museum has pieces of its collection spread across two buildings; Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. These collections can be seen on view alongside our special exhibitions.
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silk paint
Currently on view at
Gift of Mary Brandwein
Pictorial records showing some of the earliest fans date from around 3000 BC. There is evidence the Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans used fans as cooling devices as well as during ceremonial events. Chinese literary sources tie the fan to ancient mythical and historical characters. The first European folding fans were inspired by and copied from prototypes brought to Europe by way of China and Japan. In the West, throughout the eighteenth century and into the nineteenth century, the use of a fan by a woman could communicate any number of messages. Young women were educated in the various ways to hold a fan to flirt or avoid confrontation. From “kiss me” to “I am married,” the language of the hand fan was extensive within society. This boldly decorated folding fan features a detailed rose design in pink and red, with a background in varying hues of blue and purple. (Allure of Flowers)
Accession Number: 2007.3.141
Measurements:
Copyright Information:
Public Domain
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