18th century
The thinly cut strips of ivory woven in the form of a gently concave banana leaf, the main panel of the fan lavishly embellished with stained and painted ivory appliqués of a flowering orchid plant, a blossoming plum tree, citrons and other flowers with vase-form amber plaque at the center raised on scrolling clouds, centered on both sides with bamboo staves secured to the tortoiseshell frame at the top by a gilt bronze lingzhi head clip and two enameled medallions, joined at the bottom by a carved shell medallion inlaid with indigo and purple-hued kingfisher feathers of scrolling dragons at the front and a lotus blossom at the back, all above the enameled arched handle continuing the subtle S-form of the fan with a finely painted scene of flowering vines with birds and butterflies on a purple ground, joined to the fan by a mossy agate collar of semi-transparent and russet hue and terminating in a lingzhi head form terminal of the same material pierced with two holes to accept a hanging tassel.
22.5in (57.1cm) long