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Old Korean Fan / 20th Century / Wall Hanging / Folk Art / MINGEI

$1,000
£763.50
€882.21
CA$1,403.81
A$1,564.69
CHF 820.94
MX$19,107.46
NOK 10,394.90
SEK 9,824.76
DKK 6,584.33

About the Item

I was able to acquire a truly wonderful item. This is an old Korean "uchiwa" (fan). An "uchiwa" is a tool used by hand to create a breeze. It was used to cool down on hot summer days. Korea has had a long history of fan culture, and fans of various designs have been produced. It is said that during the Joseon Dynasty, men primarily used folding fans (chopseon), while women primarily used round fans (dangseon). This fan dates back to the 20th century. It was made by splitting bamboo strips into thin strips, bending them supple with heat, and then gluing two sheets of paper onto the top. When held up to the light, a cutout floral pattern emerges, allowing you to enjoy the delicate and playful design unique to thin paper. It exudes a uniquely Korean craftsmanship not found in Japanese fans. (A similar item was featured in an art book, so I've attached a photo of it here.) Because it was a daily item, many were disposable, and very few remain. While this particular piece also has some minor repairs on the paper, it is in excellent condition overall, beautifully retaining its period charm. (Please see the images for details.) This fan is not just an antique, but also a fascinating piece of interior decor. For example, if you lean it against a light-filled windowsill, the delicate openwork pattern will softly emerge, adding a touch of quiet poetry to your everyday space. Hanging it on a plaster or wooden wall creates the illusion of a small folk art piece. It blends seamlessly with Japanese interiors, as well as natural and Scandinavian modern styles. Displaying it alongside seasonal flowers and antique pottery will enhance its elegance. Items like this will likely become increasingly difficult to come by in the future. If you like it, we highly recommend you take this opportunity to acquire one. Item No.: OB296 【We mainly sell old Japanese items, but also items from around the world. We have seen tens of thousands of items so far. Using that experience, we list appealing items here. This is something we can do because of our long experience. If you are looking for something special, we encourage you to purchase it on our site.】
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.48 in (39.3 cm)Width: 12.01 in (30.5 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)
  • Style:
    Other (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    20th century
  • Condition:
    Repaired: While this particular piece also has some minor repairs on the paper, it is in excellent condition overall, beautifully retaining its period charm. (Please see the images for details.).
  • Seller Location:
    Sammu-shi, JP
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5487246057232

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