Object Record
| Object Name | Fan |
| Date | 1880-1890 |
| Description |
Folding fan. White bobbin lace leaf with butterfly motif; gauze backing. Mother-of-pearl sticks with ivory slips. Riveted at bottom, with metal loop. Fan retains its original box; box has hinged lid and is covered with white satin; inscription under lid: "TIFFANY & CO." Made in France. (Keywords: Fashion, Accessory, European, Victorian, New York) |
| Acquisition | Gift of Florence Meyer Waldo |
| Ownership and History |
The elaborate designs in the bobbin lace leaf of this fan include two butterflies that are almost hidden in the abundance of floral and scroll motifs. The fan's original box indicates that it came from Tiffany & Co. It is one of several fans in the collection from the wealthy Louis H. Meyer family of Fingerboard Road, Staten Island. Women in full evening dress often carried translucent and shimmering fans made with lace, sequins, and silk. Fans made with these materials were considered luxurious, making them perfect accessories for formal social occasions. They would catch the light, flattering the woman's appearance and accentuating her gestures. |
| Earliest Date | 1880 |
| Latest Date | 1890 |
| Material | Lace/Ivory/Mother-of-pearl |
| Subjects | Fans |
| Lexicon Sub-category | Personal Gear |
| Associated People |
Meyer, Louis H. |
| Catalog Number | C02.1558 |
| Support Acknowledgment | Online Collections Database record made possible by the Fan Association of North America (FANA), 2011. (www.fanassociation.org) |
| Legal Status | Images and text in this database are copyrighted by the Staten Island Historical Society unless otherwise noted. Items represented here are from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society. Materials reproduced for personal non-commercial use must credit the Staten Island Historical Society. Commercial licensing is available. |