صفحة 1

HISTORY OF
THE FAN

BY G. WOOLLISCROFT RHEAD

R.E.; HON. A.R.C.A. LOND.; AUTHOR OF ‘THE PRINCIPLES
OF DESIGN’; ‘A HANDBOOK OF ETCHING’; ‘THE TREATMENT
OF DRAPERY IN ART’; ‘STUDIES IN PLANT FORM’;
‘CHATS ON COSTUME,’ ETC.; JOINT AUTHOR OF
‘STAFFORDSHIRE POTS AND POTTERS’;
‘BRITISH POTTERY MARKS’

LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO. Ltd.
DRYDEN HOUSE, GERRARD STREET, W.
1910

Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty

DEDICATED
(BY GRACIOUS PERMISSION)
TO
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

THE majority of the blocks in this work were made direct from the actual Fans by Messrs. John Swain and Sons, to whom the Publishers are indebted for the skill and ingenuity with which they have overcome the many special difficulties incidental not only to the subjects themselves, but to the conditions under which many of those in private houses had to be reproduced.

The Colour Plates are printed by Messrs. Edmund Evans.

The block of the Fan Mount by Rosa Bonheur was made by Mr. F. Jenkins in Paris.

The block of the Japanese Fan Mount, The Tamagawa River, is by the Grout Engraving Company.

The lithograph of Bacchus and Ariadne is by Messrs. Martin, Hood and Larkin.

PREFACE

IT is, perhaps, a little singular that up to the present no work making any pretension to completeness has appeared in English dealing with that little instrument so intimately associated with both civil and religious life of the past, the Fan. Even on the Continent the literature of the Fan is exceedingly scanty. M. Blondel’s work, Histoire des Éventails, published in 1875, is but sparsely illustrated, and is mainly based upon the researches of M. Natalis Rondot, whose Rapport sur les objets de Parure was undertaken at the instance of the French Government in 1854. An English translation of M. Octave Uzanne’s brilliant sketch appeared in 1884, and is unillustrated except by fanciful border designs; while Lady Charlotte Schreiber’s stately tomes and Mrs. Salwey’s Fans of Japan deal only with more or less isolated portions of the subject. These, together with Der Fächer, by Georg Buss, appearing in 1904, one or two illustrated catalogues and a few desultory magazine articles, form the sum-total of the Fan’s literature. This paucity of book material, and the general absence of information amongst individuals, is at once an advantage and a disadvantage. I have in dealing with this subject such benefits as the breaking of new ground gives; I have at the same time to contend with the difficulty of collecting information from sources so scattered, and in many instances so obscure.

To the works above mentioned, which indeed have been most helpful, it is only justice to add the admirable article on ‘Les Disques crucifères, le Flabellum, et l’Umbella,’ in La Revue de l’Art Chrétien, by M. Charles de Linas; the sparkling and entertaining ‘History on Fans’ by Henri Bouchot in Art and Letters for 1883; an excellent article on Chinese Fans by H. A. Giles in Fraser’s Magazine for May 1879; articles in various publications by MM. Paul Mantz and Charles Blanc; all these I have freely used, and gladly acknowledge my indebtedness.

But, since it is scarcely possible, in a subject covering such an extended area, to avoid inaccuracies of some sort, I must endeavour to forestall any possible criticism by saying that no pains have been spared to render the book as free from errors as may be. As to the line illustrations, they must be considered merely diagrammatic, and not in any sense realistic representations of the various objects.

I welcome this opportunity of making what is an unusually long list of acknowledgments of help received. Firstly, to my Publishers for their enterprise, the admirable manner in which the book is produced, and for their uniform courtesy. Secondly, to the many owners of fans, these including the most exalted personages, who have so generously responded to my invitation to lend their fragile treasures.

My thanks are also due to the officials of the various Museums, those of the Print Room of the British, and the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museums; to Sir C. Purdon Clarke, C.I.E., F.S.A., and his son, Mr. Stanley Clarke of the India Museum; Dr. Peter Jessen of the Kunstgewerbe Museum, Berlin; Professor Pazaurek, Stuttgart; Dr. Hans W. Singer; to Sir George Birdwood, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., who has kindly read the three chapters on ancient fans; to Professor W. M. Flinders Petrie, D.C.L.; Mr. W. Holman Hunt, O.M., R.W.S.; Sir L. Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A.; the Rev. J. Foster, D.C.L.; the Clerk of the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers; the Librarian at Welbeck; Mr. Wilson Crewdson; Mr. W. Harding Smith; Mr. W. L. Behrens; Mr. R. Phené Spiers; Mr. G. F. Clausen; Mr. J. Ettlinger; Mons. J. Duvelleroy; Mr. H. Granville Fell; Mr. Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.; Mr. Talbot Hughes; Mr. Frank Falkner, for help in various ways; and last, though by no means least, to Mrs. E. P. Medley, for most valuable assistance in translation.

London, 1909. G. Woolliscroft Rhead.

ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR

1. RINALDO IN THE GARDEN OF ARMIDA. Louis XV. H.R.H. The Princess Of Wales Frontispiece TO FACE PAGE 2.

A CONCERT. Dutch. H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

1 3.

LA DANSE, AFTER LANCRET. Dr. Law Adam

8 4.

SEA NYMPHS. Italian. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.

27 5.

THE RAPE OF HELEN. ‘Vernis Martin.’ Lady Lindsay

30 6.

CHINESE FAN. Filigree and Enamel. Mr. M. Tomkinson

46 7.

CHINESE FAN. Red Lacquer. Miss Moss

53 8.

HOTEI AND THE CHILDREN. By Kanō-Shō-Yei, 1591. Mr. Wilson Crewdson.

67 9.

THE TAMAGAWA RIVER. By Kanō San Raku. Mr. Wilson Crewdson

68 10.

CUT VELLUM FAN. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

107 11.

FAN MOUNT. Bacchus and Ariadne. Mrs. Bruce-Johnston

Between pages
122 and 123 12.

PIAZZA OF ST. MARK. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.

125 13.

SPANISH FAN PAINTED IN THE CHINESE TASTE. Lady Lindsay

127

صفحة 2

14.

PASTORELLE. Spanish. H.S.H. Princess Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

132 15.

BULL FIGHTS. Spanish. Lady Northcliffe

134 16.

PASTORELLE. Louis XV. Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum

138 17.

MOMENS MUSICALS. ‘Vernis Martin.’ Mr. Leopold de Rothschild, C.V.O.

142 18.

THE RAPE OF HELEN. ‘Vernis Martin.’ Lady Northcliffe

158 19.

DIDO AND ÆNEAS. Mrs. Bischoffsheim. Facing reverse of same Fan

Between pages
162 and 163 20.

‘CABRIOLET’ FAN. Lady Northcliffe

164 21. Pg xiv

DIRECTOIRE AND EMPIRE FANS. Miss Ethel Travers Birdwood, and Mr. L. C. R. Messel, facing ‘Sans Gêne’ and Empire Fans

Between pages
170 and 171 22.

TELEMACHUS AND CALYPSO. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol

176 23.

WEDDING FAN. Directoire. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

188 24.

WEDDING FAN. H.R.H. Princess Henry of Battenberg

272 25.

LE CERF DE ST. HUBERT. By Rosa Bonheur. M. Georges Cain

280 26.

THE RED FAN. Conversations Galantes. By Charles Conder. Mr. John Lane

294 27.

THE BLUE FAN. By Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.

296

ILLUSTRATIONS IN HALF-TONE

28.

LE BAL D’AMOURS. H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

2 29.

HOMMAGES OFFERED TO MADAME DE POMPADOUR. Mrs. Bruce-Johnston

6 30.

EGYPTIAN FAN HANDLES. British Museum

14 31.

TERRA-COTTA STATUETTES

28 32.

AN EASTERN POTENTATE TAKING TEA. Mrs. Hungerford Pollen

33 33.

INDIAN FLY-WHISKS AND PEACOCK EMBLEM OF ROYALTY. India Museum

38 34.

LARGE HAND-FAN OF SANDALWOOD. Mrs. Hungerford Pollen

41 35.

FLAG AND PALM-LEAF FANS. India Museum

42 36.

CHINESE FAN. Filigree and Enamel. Victoria and Albert Museum

48 37.

HAND-SCREEN, Front and Reverse. Mr. Wilson Crewdson

50 38.

LACQUERED FAN. Lady Northcliffe

54

CARVED IVORY FAN WITH THE NAME ANGELA. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.

54 39.

CHINESE FAN WITH IVORY MINIATURES. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.

56 40.

CHINESE FEATHER-FAN (ARGUS PHEASANT) WITH CASE. Victoria and Albert Museum

59 41.

NETSUKI (DAI TENGU). Mr. W. L. Behrens

60

CAMP-FAN OF EAGLE FEATHERS. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

60

DAGGER-FAN. Mr. W. L. Behrens

60 42.

SUYE HIRO OGI (Wide End) Open and Closed. Mr. W. Harding Smith

63 43.

AKOMÉ OGI (COURT-FAN). Mr. Wilson Crewdson

64

WAR FAN (GUN SEN). Mr. W. Harding Smith

64 Pg xv44.

FOUR WAR FANS (GUMBAI UCHIWA). Mr. L. C. R. Messel, Mr. W. Harding Smith, Mr. W. L. Behrens

69 45.

WAR FANS (GUN SEN). Mr. L. C. R. Messel and Mr. W. Harding Smith

72 46.

MODERN JAPANESE FANS. Ivory with Gilt Lacquer and Painted Fan signed ‘Kunihisa.’ Mr. M. Tomkinson

74 47.

THREE CHŪKEI. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

76 48.

PALM-LEAF AND HIDE FANS. British Museum

77 49.

PALM FANS, COCKADE INSCRIPTION FAN, FLY-WHISKS (TAHITI), AND NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN FAN. British Museum

82 50.

THE TOURNAMENT. By A. Moreau. Victoria and Albert Museum

87 51.

FLABELLUM OF TOURNUS. Museo Nazionale, Florence

Facing each other
between pages
90 and 91 52.

FLAB”ELLUO”FTOU”NUSxxxDetails

53.

IVORY FAN AND FLABELLA HANDLES. British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum

92 54.

FAN OF QUEEN THEODOLINDA. Cathedral of Monza

96 55.

COPTIC FLAG-FANS. Königl. Museum, Berlin

صفحة 3

tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">98 56.

QUEEN ANNE FEATHER-SCREEN. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

102 57.

DÉCOUPÉ FAN. Musée de Cluny

109 58.

FAN OF MICA. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

110 59.

VENUS AND ADONIS. By Leonardo Germo. Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum

114 60.

AN EMBARCATION. Mrs. Hamilton Smythe

116

CUPID’S HIVE. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol

116 61.

THE TRIUMPH OF BACCHUS. Lady Northcliffe

118

BACCHUS AND ARIADNE. Lady Northcliffe

118 62.

THE MARRIAGE OF CUPID AND PSYCHE. Mr. Frank Falkner

121 63.

A SACRIFICE. Mrs. Bruce-Johnston. Facing the Colour Plate of Bacchus and Ariadne

Between pages
122 and 123 64.

RINALDO IN THE GARDEN OF ARMIDA. Miss Moss

129

CAPTURE OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

129 65.

BETROTHAL OF LOUIS XVI. WITH MARIE-ANTOINETTE. Mrs. Frank W. Gibson (Eugénie Joachim)

130 66.

SPANGLED FAN. Spanish. Mr. Talbot Hughes

136

FÊTE DE L’AGRICULTURE, Mr. L. C. R. Messel

136 Pg xvi67.

LA DANSE, AND PASTORELLE. Duchess of Portland

141 68.

PASTORELLE, AFTER LANCRET. H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

144 69.

ACTÆON FAN. Musée de Cluny

146 70.

CEPHALUS AND AURORA. Mrs. Bischoffsheim

148

VERNIS MARTIN. Mrs. F. R. Palmer

148 71.

A PASTORELLE, WITH TWO PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS. Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum

150 72.

THE PARTING OF HELEN AND ANDROMACHE. The Dowager Marchioness
of Bristol

153 73.

BATTOIR FAN. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol

154 74.

FÊTE CHAMPÊTRE. ‘Vernis Martin.’ Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum

156 75.

BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST. Metropolitan Museum, New York

160 76.

BUILDING OF THE PLACE LOUIS XV. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol

162 77.

DIDO AND ÆNEAS. Reverse. Mrs. Bischoffsheim. Facing the Colour Plate of same Fan

Between pages
162 and 163 78.

‘CABRIOLET’ FAN. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol

Facing each other
between pages
164 and 165 79.

‘CABRI”OLET’ F”AN. The Do”wager Marchioness”

80.

WEDDING FAN. The Countess of Bradford

Facing each other
between pages
166 and 167 81.

WED”DING F”ANLady Lindsay

82.

STICK OF MARIE-ANTOINETTE FAN. Musée du Louvre

169 83.

SANS GÊNE AND EMPIRE FANS. Mr. L. C. R. Messel. Facing Colour Plate of Directoire and Sans Gêne Fans

Between pages
170 and 171 84.

‘LORGNETTE’ FANS. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

173 85.

SPANGLED GAUZE FANS. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

175 86.

A LONDON FAN SHOP. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

178

THE SURRENDER OF MALTA. Mrs. Hungerford Pollen

178 87.

FÊTES ON THE OCCASION OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE DAUPHIN. Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum

180

ENGLISH FAN. THE VISIT. Collection of Baroness Meyer de Rothschild

180 88.

ENGLISH FAN WITH MEDALLIONS AFTER COSWAY. Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum

182 89.

IVORY EMPIRE FAN. Lady Northcliffe

184

SPANGLED FAN WITH PAINTED MEDALLIONS. Mrs. Frank W. Gibson

184 Pg xvii90.

WEDDING FAN. Mrs. Hawkins

186

ST. PETER’S, ROME. By J. Goupy. Dr. Law Adam

186 91.

EARLY DUTCH FAN. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol

190 92.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Dutch. Miss Moss

Facing each other
between pages
192 and 193 93.

AN EMBARCATION.

صفحة 4

class="smcap">Dutch. M. J. Duvelleroy 94.

DUTCH FAN WITH HEAD ON STICK. Sir L. Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A.

194 95.

AN OFFERING TO CERES. H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

196 96.

DUTCH FAN (DÉCOUPÉ). Mrs. Davies-Gilbert

198

DUTCH FAN WITH ‘PAGODA’ STICK. Mr. L. C. R. Messel

198 97.

MEDALLION FAN. German. Given by H.R.H. The Duke of Coburg to H.R.H. The Princess Victoria, H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

200 98.

GERMAN FAN. Given by H.R.H. The Prince Consort to Queen Victoria

200

GER”MAN F”A Landesgewerbe Museum, Stuttgart

200 99.

TWO GERMAN FANS. Kunstgewerbe Museum, Berlin

202 100.

ENGRAVED HAND-SCREEN. A. Carracci. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

204

ENGRAVED HAND-SCREEN.C. F. Hörman.Schr”eiber Colle”ction, Bri”tish

204 101.

FÊTE ON THE ARNO, ‘ÉVENTAIL DE CALLOT.’ British Museum

206 102.

GROTESQUE FAN, STYLE OF CALLOT. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

208 103.

THE FOUR AGES. Abraham Bosse

210 104.

TITLE-PAGE. Nicholas Loire. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

212

LA COQUETTE. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

212 105.

TAKING OF THE BASTILLE. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

214

DUC D’ORLEANS. Miss Moss

214 106.

ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE-TRADE. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

222

‘CABRIOLET’ FAN. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

222 107.

NAPOLEON SHOWS HIS TROOPS THE CHANNEL. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

224 108.

PROJECTED INVASION OF ENGLAND, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

226 109.

MARRIAGE OF NAPOLEON. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

228

ADVENTURE IN RUSSIA. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

228 110.

A NEW GAME OF PIQUET. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

232 111.

THE MOTION. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

236

THE NEW NASSAU FAN. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

236 Pg xviii112.

THE HARLOT’S PROGRESS. Mr. C. Fairfax Murray

238 113.

VISIT OF GEORGE III. TO THE ROYAL ACADEMY. Mr. F. Perigal

246 114.

MR. THOMAS OSBORNE’S DUCK-HUNTING. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

252 115.

THE TRIAL OF WARREN HASTINGS. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.

258

THE PARADES OF BATH. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.

258 116.

A TRIP TO GRETNA. Schreiber Collection, British Museum

264

‘BARTOLOZZI’ FAN. Mrs. Frank W. Gibson (Eugénie Joachim)

264 117.

MISS CHARLOTTE YONGE’S FAN. Miss Moss

274

FAN OF ASSES’ SKIN. Miss Moss

274 118.

PAINTED IVORY BRISÉ FAN. Mr. Leopold de Rothschild, C.V.O.

276

PORTUGUESE FAN. Mr. J. H. Etherington-Smith

276 119.

LACE MOUNT. Youghal Co-operative Lace Society

278

AN ENTOMOLOGIST. Countess Granville

278 120.

COCKS AND HENS. Claudius Popelin. Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris

282 121.

AUTOGRAPH FAN. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A.

284

AUTO”GRAPH F”A Japanese. Mr. Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.

284 122.

LACE FAN PRESENTED TO QUEEN ALEXANDRA FOR USE AT CORONATION. Her Majesty the Queen

286 123.

FEATHER-FAN. H.R.H. The Princess of Wales

289 124.

THE MEET. By Charles Detaille. M. J, Duvelleroy

290 125.

LACE FAN. By Alexandre. Victoria and

صفحة 5

Albert Museum To face each other
between pages
292 and 294 126.

LACE FAN. M. J. Duvelleroy

127.

DESIGN FOR FAN. By Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.

298

A GARLAND OF CHILDREN. By G. Woolliscroft Rhead

298

ILLUSTRATIONS IN LINE

PAGE

Feather-fan, Nimroud

ix

Peacock-feather Fan

xii

Head-piece

xiii

Initial—Boy with Fan

1

Tea-fan

9

Initial—Vulture with Emblem of Protection

10

Fire-fan, Colombia

12

Portuguese ‘Abano’

12

Plaited Hand-fan, Egyptian

13

Hand-fan, Egyptian

13 Pg xix

Hand-fan, Egyptian

14

Fly-whisk, Egyptian

14

Ceremonial Fans—from Rosellini

15

Cere”monial F”ns

16

Investiture of the Office of Fan-bearer

17

Umbrella or Canopy of Chariot of Rameses III.

19

Initial—Assyrian Fly-whisk

20

Assyrian and Persian Fly-whisks

21

Covers of Fly-whisks

21

Tail-piece—from an Assyrian relief

26

Initial—Greek Girl with Fan

27

Greek Fans

28

Greek Girl with Fan

30

Tail-piece—Girl with Fan

32

Initial—from printed Cotton Hanging, India

33

Cingalese Sēsata

37

Fly-whisk—from an illumination

38

Fly-”whisk- from a painting on talc, Madras

38

Emblem of Royalty

39

Royal Standards

40

Hand-fan

41

Plaited-Grass Fan

41

Flag-fan

41

Talapat Fan and Pankhás

42

Burmese Fan of Gold

43

Portion of Embroidered Muslin (Chamba, Nineteenth Century)

44

Fly-whisk used by Jains

45

Circular Fan, ‘Like the Moon’

46

Fan of Hsi Wang Mu (Japanese Painting, British Museum)

47

Fan of Ming Dynasty (Painting, British Museum)

47

White Plumed Fan of Hsi Wang Mu

48

Two Pear-shaped Screens

49

Initial—Japanese

60

Feather-fan, Japanese Painting

61

Hand-screen,Japa”nese P”nting

61

Fly-whisk, Upper Nile

77

Plaited Fans, South Pacific Islands

79

Plaited Fans, Hawaiian

80

Various Fans, Samoa

81

Variou”s FansBritish Guiana

81

Variou”s FansEcuador and Peru

81

Variou”s FansSouth-Eastern Pacific

81

Flag-fan, West Africa

83

Fly-whisk, Andaman Islands

85

Fly-”whiskTahiti

85

Fly-”whiskMatabele

86

Fly-”whiskEast African

86

صفحة 6

class="indent3">Angel with Flabellum 87

Processional Flabellum

88

Coptic Flabellum

89

Flabellum, from Greek Psalter

93

Flab”ellumfrom Goar

94

Flab”ellumMonza

96

Flag-fan, from Vatican (a glass vase)

98

Banner-fan, from ivory diptich

99

Ghost-fan, Malay Archipelago

106

Fan of Ferrara, or Duck’s-foot

107

Fragments of Fan from Château de Pierre

109

Small Rigid Fans, 1590

109

Feather-fan, Milan

110

Diagram of parts of Folding-fan

116

Rigid Screen of Bologna, 1590

127

Fan of Rice-straw, Fifteenth Century

138

Dimensions of Fans, 1550-1780

148

Japanese Lady’s Court-fan

175

Long-handled Feather-fan

176

Ostrich-feather Folding-fan, Amsterdam

196

Flag-fan, Titian

204

Ivory Fan, Madras, Nineteenth Century

231

Plaited Fan

232

Hide-fan, from Benin

271

Queen Kapiolani’s Fan

272

From a Chinese Screen, Victoria and Albert Museum

299

History of the Fan

HISTORY OF
THE FAN

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

PREFACE

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR

ILLUSTRATIONS IN HALF-TONE

ILLUSTRATIONS IN LINE

HISTORY OF THE FAN

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

PREFACE

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR

ILLUSTRATIONS IN HALF-TONE

ILLUSTRATIONS IN LINE

HISTORY OF
THE FAN