Fan

Delicate wooden fan with careful openwork decoration along the outer guards and sticks. The fan is crafted from a warm-toned wood and features repeating pierced oval motifs. The central part bears a printed medallion depicting four figures in flowing robes gathered in various settings.

The central illustration depicts a scene of a young girl performing a dance before two seated figures. The dancer is dressed in a voluminous white costume and wears a white turban. Her dress features a V-necked bodice composed of two sections of flowing white fabric joined at the centre. The sleeves are divided into two tiers, with a larger voluminous upper section placed over a smaller rounded lower section. The bodice is gathered at the waist and fastened with a black sash, from which the flowing lower part of the dress extends.

The dancer’s turban is adorned with feathers of various forms and dimensions, adding an ornamental element to the costume. She also wears a black sleeveless cape draped over her shoulders. In her right hand, she holds an elongated object, possibly a pipe or flute, which may serve as a prop associated with the performance.

Behind her stands another female dancer wearing a similar costume, composed of a light-coloured turban, a white blouse, and a long cape. Her skirt, however, appears in a darker shade, creating a contrast with the predominantly pale palette of her attire.

The two seated male figures observe the exotic performance. They are dressed in white turbans, high-necked white robes, and dark-coloured outer garments with voluminous puffed sleeves, reflecting an Orientalist interpretation of costume and theatrical display.