Two fans, anonymous, c. 1850 - c. 1890
Originally Asian accessories, fans were appreciated as early as the 17th century. Workshops in Canton produced them in various materials. The fan at the left is lavishly decorated with gold lacquer, while quite exceptionally the one at the right is made of tortoise-shell. The tortoise-shell fan was ordered by Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest, head of the VOC post in Canton, in 1795.