Oval fan

A Chinese fixed fan of the tuanshan 團扇 type from the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), dated to the 18th or 19th century. It is oval and curved inward. It has a beige ivory handle and a black lacquered wooden frame made of several parts. The handle has a string with a braided knot. This fan is an example of an older model of fan, which later became known as the Swatow or Shantou 汕頭市 fan; it is named after the place where it was made in the 19th century. Bamboo is cut lengthwise into very small sticks that are reinforced with wire and covered with paper, which is why the fans look ribbed. The paper is painted using the gouache technique, in which gum or an opaque white pigment is added to the watercolours to create opacity. The fan features motifs from the three most common categories of Chinese painting: people, landscapes, and flowers and birds. The painted figures depict immortal and supernatural beings on the sacred mountain Kunlun, in the world of nature and peace, including Daoist sages, the Mother of the Western Empire and the phoenix. A temple can be seen in the background, and many trees and flowers are also painted. The phoenix (fenghuang 鳳凰), a mythological creature, is a popular motif in Chinese painting, where it is a symbol of virtue and grace. The fan is relatively well preserved. (NVG)