Vouwwaaier met felroze struisveren op een montuur van onversierd van kunststof met schildpadmotief c. 1900 - 1925

Editor: Here we have a fan, a folding fan specifically, made sometime between 1900 and 1925, author unknown, but made by Duvelleroy, constructed from mixed media including pink ostrich feathers. My first thought is that it's outrageously flamboyant! It also strikes me as very tactile, like you just want to reach out and run your fingers through it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, absolutely! I see a whisper of a bygone era, a time when fans were less about cooling off and more about communication – a secret language fluttering between individuals. It's so interesting that you noted it’s tactility— the creator seemed less concerned with function and much more intent on indulgence of form, and that shade of pink against the brown is really delightful. Editor: A secret language? That's intriguing! Curator: Think of the fan as an extension of the wearer, darling. A subtle flick, a coy closure - each gesture imbued with meaning. A young lady could send very clear signals using a seemingly simple object like this. Makes our emojis seem rather crude, doesn’t it? How does the design inform or suggest that secret language, in your opinion? Editor: Well, if each gesture has meaning, I would think such vibrant color will certainly speak volumes! Someone brandishing *this* is trying to say something big, surely? Curator: Exactly! Perhaps it hints at the confidence and extravagance of the era, but also to the social constraints that necessitate such subtle means of expression. And as you said earlier, it's flamboyant! It makes me think how items of supposed simple utility, like a hand fan, are just perfect microcosms for cultural dynamics. What a fabulous piece! Editor: I agree, the fan has more to it than just meets the eye! Thank you for helping to see its deeper cultural layers and nuances!