Court fan decorated with waves and sun

Fans were popular items at the expositions and were available both folding and nonfolding, the former a Japanese invention. Made of a variety of materials, from bamboo to tortoiseshell and ivory, often with intricate decorations, the cheaper versions were popular souvenirs, as were paper parasols, and could be purchased at the Japanese bazaar. Symbols of demure femininity, they provided a decorative facade to hide behind, but with elaborate language inherent in their positioning. The Japanese fan served to preserve that modesty, though in the West it was also seen as a weapon in the art of flirtation. (“JapanAmerica: Points of Contact, 1876–1970,” curated by Nancy E. Green and presented at the Johnson Museum August 27–December 18, 2016)