City of Armadale - History House > Records

FAN, HAND - IVORY FRAME

« Prev Item Next Item »

c. 1890 - 1930

Overview

13 ivory slat fan. Ends of slats hinged together with a metal pin. End two slats flat and wider than the other slats. Gold motif on outer sides of the end slats
Attached to the top of the prongs is the remains of white lace. The rest of the material is mIising.

Historical information

This fan belonged to a member of the Dumsday family who came to Western Australia from Victoria in the 1890s, lived in Subiaco for a time before moving to Forrestdale in the early 1900s. The fan was possibly used by Laura Dumsday or one daughter Lillian who would marry Alfred Skeet of Forrestdale. Both Laura and Lillian enjoyed music and often attended shows in Melbourne, Perth as well as community events around Forrestdale. The fan would have been used to keep them cool as most venues whould of had no cooling systems in the early 1900s.
The folding fan is believed to have been developed in Japan during the 6th century C.E. Over the next five hundred years it spread across parts of Asia including China. In the 1500s regular trade between Europe and China started and the folding fan was introduced to Europe. The fan quickly became a highly sought after ornate and expensive fashion accessory for women in European royal courts. In the 1700s the fan was no longer the exclusive property of the elite. Mass produced cheap fans became available, made in Europe and China. At the start of the 1800s the fan fell out of fashion. In the 1820s the fan came back into fashion and was often designed to match or from the same fabric as the dress. Many fans from this period were large and highly decorated with romantic scenes from the 17th and 18th centuries.
In the 1900s fans remained in fashion but they became smaller and more delicate to match the changing fashion. The fan also became restricted to use with evening wear. By the 1920s though the fan was once again out of fashion. Fans were something for older women to use or were used as part of advertising campaigns. Through Asia fans remained popular during this time and continue to be popular today.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-AK1975.86

Material

Ivory

Lace

Width

22 cm

Keywords

SKEET Lilian Mrs nee Dumsday

DUMSDAY Laura J Mrs

SKEET Family

Forrestdale

Year

c. 1890 - 1930

Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection of items associated with a person or family who have played a significant role in the economic, community or social development of the City of Armadale. This can include holding key political or social positions within the community, being a key contributor or member of a community organisation, a strong contributor to improving the well-being of the local community, a prominent figure in a local business or industry, developer of new industries or activities or someone who grew up in the area and moved away and had a noteworthy career or life.

Comparative significance criteria

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback