Fan 1830 - 1840

This fan was made by Fernando Coustellier and Co., but its precise date is unknown. What we see on its surface is more than mere decoration. Consider the fan's design, which incorporates musical notation from Rossini's opera. In the 19th century, opera wasn't just entertainment; it was a social event, a place for networking, display, and negotiation of social status. Fans like these became fashionable accessories and a portable expression of one’s cultural taste. Fans can be seen as active participants in the social theater, used to signal interest, disdain, or even availability. This fan, adorned with operatic scores, speaks volumes about its owner’s cultural affiliations and social aspirations within a very specific milieu. To truly understand the fan, we need to examine playbills, fashion plates, social diaries, and the music itself. It is these pieces that can unlock a deeper understanding of the objects we encounter in museums.