Vouwwaaier met blad van Duchesse kant, met margrieten en geschulpte rand, op een ajourmontuur van ivoor, voorzien van metalen waaierring c. 1914

This folding fan, made with Duchesse lace, daisies, and an openwork ivory frame, isn't just an object; it's like a drawing in space. Lace is a drawing, right? A kind of slow, deliberate mark making, but with thread. The way the School voor Kunstnijverheid uses that material—the delicate texture, the play of light through the gaps—it's all about surface and touch. I love the scalloped edges of the lace and how the form undulates, creating a sense of movement and rhythm. See how the daisies almost float on the surface? It’s like a field of tiny abstract paintings, each one slightly different. The whole thing is so airy and light, you can almost feel the breeze it would create. It reminds me a little of the work of Ree Morton, who took these so-called feminine materials and elevated them to high art. This fan, like Morton's sculptures, invites us to reconsider what we value, and what we consider art. What can be functional can also be beautiful.