Fan Case with Flowers and Insects on a White Background

Shown here is an embroidered fan case—an accessory worn at the waist for holding folding fans when they were not in use. The case with a white ground was originally acquired in Beijing by Louis de Geofroy, French ambassador to China in the 1850s. It features an unusual technique—raised-work embroidery, which produces a three-dimensional effect (note the insect motifs).

Credit: Funds from various donors, 2005