Vouwwaaier met blad van beige tule versierd met okergele zijde, stalen en koperen pailletten en lovers op een montuur van goudgele kunststof ingelegd met staal en versierd met goudverf c. 1890 - 1910

This is a fan of unknown origin, featuring beige tulle adorned with ocher silk, steel, copper sequins, and inlays set on a golden-yellow plastic frame. The fan's radial structure, typical of its form, is articulated through a rhythm of alternating materials and textures. The ocher silk, studded with sequins, creates a shimmering effect that contrasts with the matte finish of the tulle, producing a dynamic interplay of light. Note how the sequins, meticulously applied, function as specular highlights, drawing the eye across the surface. This attention to detail destabilizes any straightforward reading of utility, elevating the object into the realm of ornamentation. The golder-yellow plastic frame, inlaid with steel, reinforces this tension between functionality and the purely aesthetic. The fan, therefore, becomes a semiotic field, where each element – color, material, texture – contributes to a discourse on value, status, and the shifting boundaries between art and craft. It exemplifies how an object can transcend its intended use to become a site of cultural and philosophical contemplation.