The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-22
ANTIQUE FANS SEEN
AT FRENCH MUSEUM
Wonders of Skill and Taste
Mark Exhibition Of Aris-
tOcratic Past.
REPRESENT ALL PERIODS
History Of Dainty Article May
Be Read in Complete
Display.

The exhibition OF antique fans at the
Museum Of French Art. which began yes
terday with a private view, discloses the
fact that democratic America 10 exceed
ingly rich In the possession OF these
splendid emblems OF the aristicratic past.
The whole history of the folding fan may
be read In this very complete display, as
we'll as great deal OF light on social
customs during the centuries that elapsed
between the rise and fall OF the fan.
For the fan has fallen from its former
high estate! 1t Is somewhat startling
to recall in the presence of these fragile
and exquisite pieces Of workmanship that
the fan reached It's height OF elegance
just before the French Revolution, The
thought will creep into the minds of most
observers that in this day OF social dis
turbance the period will also have to be
placed after many OF our art aspirations
of the present and the anxious query
which of our indulgences must be
dropped 1t is easy to stifie such dis
turbing thoughts In the presence OF so
much real beauty, however, especially as
the constructive moralists insist that 1t
Will be the production of new beauty
that will be the panacea for the ills Of
modern life.
Almost all the famous collections in
town have been drawn upon for the ex-
hibltlon. Among those who have lent
priceless fans or laces and jewels, for
these too are included in the show. are
Mr. J. Plerpont Morgan, Mrs Herbert
L. Satterlee. Mrs. Emil Boas. Miss Eliz-
abeth Games. Mrs. Francis MacNeil
Bacon. Mrs. Cadwallader Jones, Mr.. and
Mrs. de Jonge, Mrs. William Pierson
Hamilton. Mrs. William Reed Thompson.
De Witt Clinton Cohen, Mrs. George j.
Whelan. Miss Eleanor @. Hewitt, Miss
Hewitt Mrs. B. Aymar Sands, Mrs Paul
Dana, Mrs E. n. Herzog. Mrs. Albert
Blum. Mrs. Leo Kessel, Walter Maynard
Mrs. Kenneth Frazier, Mrs. Lawrence
Oppenhem. Albert f. Gallatin, Mrs.
Henry Mottet. Miss Margaret b. Gould,
Miss Caroline X. Duer, Mrs. Charles B.
Alexander. Mrs. Adolf Ladenburg and
Mrs, f Gray Griswold.
Workmanship appears TO have been
carried to the nth degree OF skill in these
fans, and 1t is impossible to decide
whether one should admire most the
painted decorations. even when after
such masters as Lancret and Vatican or
the carved ivory mounts which vie with
the way of intricacy There are speci-
mems from Japan and China. where fold
ing fans originated, and many from
Spain. Portugal. Italy and Holland. but
the great preponderance are OF course
from France, illustrating all the periods,
including the great era when Hebert.
Rau, Chevalier and Jean Bouquet were
working And Boucher. Lancret and Wat
teau were supplying designs.
A Louis XIV. fan. owned By Mrs. ].
Pierpont Morgan, has been painted in
vernis-Martin, depicting "Renaud in the
Garden OF Armd." Mrs. Satterlee has
sent a remarkable parchment fan with a
decoration OF a Roman Triumph" A
beautiful Regent fan, showing the Con
thence OF Scipio," is owned by Mrs.
Francis Mcneil Bacon. A "cabrioet'
fan decorated with marine views by
Joseph Nernet came from Miss Hewitt.
A mourning fan of the Louis XVI.
period is loaned by Mrs. Cadwallader
Jones. An unusual tortoise shell fan
with a minute pierced decoration be-
longs to De Witt Clinton Cohen who
also lends remarkable "drageoir," in
carved ivory.