Fan, D88.204

Cooling fan of multiple dyed feathers (ostrich?) attached to leather covered (wooden?) handle. A series of (ostrich?) feathers are arranged in fan shape, i.e. semi circle. On one side of the fan the feathers are each dyed a single colour of green, orange, or yellow. The feathers are arranged on the other side of the fan to be a single colour of green. Feathers are attached at their base meeting point to a fan shaped leather construction. This leather piece is constructed in its original shape as a long oval with an outer edging yellow leather strip sewn to an inner oval of dyed red leather. This has been folded in the middle across the narrow portion to become fan shaped while also enfolding the base meeting point of the feathers. One side of this fan shaped leather piece (the same side as the coloured feathers) has 5 diamond shapes arranged in a single diamond pattern. These diamond shapes are 3 of white leather and 2 of yellow which appear to be enclosed within the leather fan to be seen through diamond shaped windows cut in the main body of the leather. A light (natural) coloured leather handle runs through the base and up through the body of this leather fan. It is tied with a leather strap - where the handle meets the fan - by a leather strap running several times the circumference of the handle. Likely the leather handle is leather wrapped tightly over a wooden stick. A flexible strip of dyed red leather (for hanging the fan?) is attached to the base of the fan by a leather strap running several times the circumference of the handle. The general appearance of the fan is of having had little or no use. It appears in good condition though the edges of some of the feathers have disappeared(?). (NOTE: Storage box is a bit too small - confining - for the fan with the ends of some feathers bent up by the sides of the box.)

Cooling fan of multiple dyed feathers (ostrich?) attached to leather covered (wooden?) handle. A series of (ostrich?) feathers are arranged in fan shape, i.e. semi circle. On one side of the fan the feathers are each dyed a single colour of green, orange, or yellow. The feathers are arranged on the other side of the fan to be a single colour of green. Feathers are attached at their base meeting point to a fan shaped leather construction. This leather piece is constructed in its original shape as a long oval with an outer edging yellow leather strip sewn to an inner oval of dyed red leather. This has been folded in the middle across the narrow portion to become fan shaped while also enfolding the base meeting point of the feathers. One side of this fan shaped leather piece (the same side as the coloured feathers) has 5 diamond shapes arranged in a single diamond pattern. These diamond shapes are 3 of white leather and 2 of yellow which appear to be enclosed within the leather fan to be seen through diamond shaped windows cut in the main body of the leather. A light (natural) coloured leather handle runs through the base and up through the body of this leather fan. It is tied with a leather strap - where the handle meets the fan - by a leather strap running several times the circumference of the handle. Likely the leather handle is leather wrapped tightly over a wooden stick. A flexible strip of dyed red leather (for hanging the fan?) is attached to the base of the fan by a leather strap running several times the circumference of the handle. The general appearance of the fan is of having had little or no use. It appears in good condition though the edges of some of the feathers have disappeared(?). (NOTE: Storage box is a bit too small - confining - for the fan with the ends of some feathers bent up by the sides of the box.)

Height from base of handle to top edge of orange middle feather = approx. 425mm. Length of handle from its base to base of fan's leather attachment = approx. 125mm. Width of fan (left to right when layed flat) = approx. 540mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Donated by: Mrs Muriel Newnham

Locality: Nigeria