Fan; China, Qing dynasty, possibly Xianfeng period, 1854-1861. Tortoiseshell with silk ribbon. Presents breakage of the silk ribbon. Preserves lacquered and gilded wooden case with silk interior. Measurements: 25 x 3 x 3 cm. Tortoiseshell fan with original box made of lacquered wood. Under the Qing, inherited art forms flourished and innovations of both technical and aesthetic character were produced. High levels of literacy, a successful publishing industry, thriving cities and a Confucian emphasis on cultivation nurtured a lively and creative set of cultural fields. uring this period, the European tendency to imitate Chinese artistic traditions, known as chinoiserie, also gained great popularity in Europe due to increased trade with China and the broader current of Orientalism.

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