Chinese
Folding Fan: Peonies and Butterflies, late 19th century
Ink and color on paper with lacquered bamboo ribs, 30.8 x 40.6 cm (12 1/8 x 16 in.)
This Chinese folding fan is made of watercolor on paper with lacquered bamboo ribs. The paper is white with a gold border and the ribs are brown and attached with a clasp. A small ivory tag hangs from the clasp. On the front side, there are peony blooms in yellow, blue, pink, and orange, along with other floral designs and black Chinese lettering. On the back side, there are pink and blue peony blooms with the inscription painted in black Chinese letters that reads in English: “essay on poetry by Yuan Hei.” The guard of the fan has small black vines painted along it.
Vatichino
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.