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.CONTENTS
PAGE PREFACE ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii CHAPTER I THE ORIGIN AND USES OF THE FAN 1 CHAPTER II FANS OF THE ANCIENTS 10 CHAPTER III FANS OF THE FAR EAST 33 CHAPTER IV FANS OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLES 77 CHAPTER V THE FLABELLUM AND EARLY FEATHER-FAN 87 CHAPTER VIPAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (ITALIAN AND SPANISH)
107 CHAPTER VIIPAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (FRENCH)
138 CHAPTER VIIIPAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (ENGLISH, DUTCH, FLEMISH, AND GERMAN)
176 CHAPTER IXENGRAVED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. PART I.
204 CHAPTER XENGRAVED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. PART II.
232 CHAPTER XI MODERN AND PRESENT-DAY FANS 272 INDEX 301PEACOCK-FEATHER FAN.
(From a Japanese Painting. British Museum.)
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 pages122 and 123 12.
PIAZZA OF ST. MARK. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.
125 13.SPANISH FAN PAINTED IN THE CHINESE TASTE. Lady Lindsay
127PASTORELLE. 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 pages162 and 163 20.
‘CABRIOLET’ FAN. Lady Northcliffe
164 21. Pg xivDIRECTOIRE AND EMPIRE FANS. Miss Ethel Travers Birdwood, and Mr. L. C. R. Messel, facing ‘Sans Gêne’ and Empire Fans
Between pages170 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.
296ILLUSTRATIONS 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
54CARVED 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
60CAMP-FAN OF EAGLE FEATHERS. Mr. L. C. R. Messel
60DAGGER-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
64WAR 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 otherbetween 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
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
116CUPID’S HIVE. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol
116 61.THE TRIUMPH OF BACCHUS. Lady Northcliffe
118BACCHUS 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 pages122 and 123 64.
RINALDO IN THE GARDEN OF ARMIDA. Miss Moss
129CAPTURE 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
136FÊTE 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
148VERNIS 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
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 pages162 and 163 78.
‘CABRIOLET’ FAN. The Dowager Marchioness of Bristol
Facing each otherbetween pages
164 and 165 79.
‘CABRI”OLET’ F”AN. The Do”wager Marchioness”
80.WEDDING FAN. The Countess of Bradford
Facing each otherbetween 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 pages170 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
178THE SURRENDER OF MALTA. Mrs. Hungerford Pollen
178 87.FÊTES ON THE OCCASION OF THE MARRIAGE OF THE DAUPHIN. Wyatt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum
180ENGLISH 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
184SPANGLED FAN WITH PAINTED MEDALLIONS. Mrs. Frank W. Gibson
184 Pg xvii90.WEDDING FAN. Mrs. Hawkins
186ST. 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 otherbetween pages
192 and 193 93.
AN EMBARCATION.
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
198DUTCH 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
200GER”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
204ENGRAVED 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
212LA COQUETTE. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris
212 105.TAKING OF THE BASTILLE. Schreiber Collection, British Museum
214DUC 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
228ADVENTURE 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
236THE 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.
258THE 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
274FAN OF ASSES’ SKIN. Miss Moss
274 118.PAINTED IVORY BRISÉ FAN. Mr. Leopold de Rothschild, C.V.O.
276PORTUGUESE FAN. Mr. J. H. Etherington-Smith
276 119.LACE MOUNT. Youghal Co-operative Lace Society
278AN 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.
284AUTO”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
between pages
292 and 294 126.
LACE FAN. M. J. Duvelleroy
127.DESIGN FOR FAN. By Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A.
298A GARLAND OF CHILDREN. By G. Woolliscroft Rhead
298ILLUSTRATIONS IN LINE
PAGEFeather-fan, Nimroud
ixPeacock-feather Fan
xiiHead-piece
xiiiInitial—Boy with Fan
1Tea-fan
9Initial—Vulture with Emblem of Protection
10Fire-fan, Colombia
12Portuguese ‘Abano’
12Plaited Hand-fan, Egyptian
13Hand-fan, Egyptian
13 Pg xixHand-fan, Egyptian
14Fly-whisk, Egyptian
14Ceremonial Fans—from Rosellini
15Cere”monial F”ns
16Investiture of the Office of Fan-bearer
17Umbrella or Canopy of Chariot of Rameses III.
19Initial—Assyrian Fly-whisk
20Assyrian and Persian Fly-whisks
21Covers of Fly-whisks
21Tail-piece—from an Assyrian relief
26Initial—Greek Girl with Fan
27Greek Fans
28Greek Girl with Fan
30Tail-piece—Girl with Fan
32Initial—from printed Cotton Hanging, India
33Cingalese Sēsata
37Fly-whisk—from an illumination
38Fly-”whisk- from a painting on talc, Madras
38Emblem of Royalty
39Royal Standards
40Hand-fan
41Plaited-Grass Fan
41Flag-fan
41Talapat Fan and Pankhás
42Burmese Fan of Gold
43Portion of Embroidered Muslin (Chamba, Nineteenth Century)
44Fly-whisk used by Jains
45Circular Fan, ‘Like the Moon’
46Fan of Hsi Wang Mu (Japanese Painting, British Museum)
47Fan of Ming Dynasty (Painting, British Museum)
47White Plumed Fan of Hsi Wang Mu
48Two Pear-shaped Screens
49Initial—Japanese
60Feather-fan, Japanese Painting
61Hand-screen,Japa”nese P”nting
61Fly-whisk, Upper Nile
77Plaited Fans, South Pacific Islands
79Plaited Fans, Hawaiian
80Various Fans, Samoa
81Variou”s FansBritish Guiana
81Variou”s FansEcuador and Peru
81Variou”s FansSouth-Eastern Pacific
81Flag-fan, West Africa
83Fly-whisk, Andaman Islands
85Fly-”whiskTahiti
85Fly-”whiskMatabele
86Fly-”whiskEast African
86Processional Flabellum
88Coptic Flabellum
89Flabellum, from Greek Psalter
93Flab”ellumfrom Goar
94Flab”ellumMonza
96Flag-fan, from Vatican (a glass vase)
98Banner-fan, from ivory diptich
99Ghost-fan, Malay Archipelago
106Fan of Ferrara, or Duck’s-foot
107Fragments of Fan from Château de Pierre
109Small Rigid Fans, 1590
109Feather-fan, Milan
110Diagram of parts of Folding-fan
116Rigid Screen of Bologna, 1590
127Fan of Rice-straw, Fifteenth Century
138Dimensions of Fans, 1550-1780
148Japanese Lady’s Court-fan
175Long-handled Feather-fan
176Ostrich-feather Folding-fan, Amsterdam
196Flag-fan, Titian
204Ivory Fan, Madras, Nineteenth Century
231Plaited Fan
232Hide-fan, from Benin
271Queen Kapiolani’s Fan
272From a Chinese Screen, Victoria and Albert Museum
299