Featured woven fan

Could anyone please tell me about this fan? It was described as a "vintage reed hand fan with handle, handmade by native artisans, original owner" for about 70 bucks and another twenty to ship it. I wrote to the seller, but she's not the original owner, although she said her grandmother was, said it's 12" long, the fan is fairly rigid and has been in her drawer for twenty years. Failed to mention where the "native artisans" were located. Seller shows only this one photo of it. I can't imagine paying 90 bucks for a utilitarian item that I plan to use out in the heat of the summer, but I might want to pay that if it's something really special? Cannot guess, please let me know if it is. I wonder what country is this from? I've not seen anything quite as detailed, would love to know how old it is, etc.

 

guessing Philippines?

 

@Any Jewelry

 

thanks, Blooey, any particular reason you guess Philippines?

Thanks, Kyra, I thought I had called AJ's name above, but apparently I deleted it while trying to describe the advertisement.

 

@antidiem - I imported wicker products to Canada during the craze in the late 1970's and although handled nothing quite as fine as your fan, all the highest quality work came from the Philippines ...

 

No kidding! I had no idea, thank you Blooey. It looks about 1970s circa to me - what do you think about the age?

 

Sorry, I don't have any idea

 

It might have been made in the Philippines, but the materials used, the way it is woven, and especially that distinctive handle, is more characteristic of fans from Micronesia.

That includes a large area, from the Northern Marianas, to the Marshal Islands, to Palau, and every island group makes their own distinctive fans, some including feathers or cowrie shells. I can't say that I've seen this exact fan before, so can't narrow it down more. But many use that long stick, covered with a plaited pattern for the handle, and it seems to be associated with Micronesian and South Pacific fans.

And the material used is split and dried leaves from the pandanus tree or shrub, not a reed.

 

I'm with Taupou, it is Micronesian, it is stunning, and yes pandanus leaf. My guess is it is ca 1900.

It is a collector's item, I have seen vintage/antique Micronesian fans for double that price. It is something to put in a display case so you can admire the amazingly fine weaving while using a cheap and cheerful Indonesian palm leaf fan.

 

Thank you so much for identifying this fan for me, Blooey, Taupau and AJ, much appreciated. Had no idea it was possibly actually an antique over a hundred years old! It caught my eye because it looked like weaving work from the Pacific islands. I've never seen such nice work close up.
Ok. I'm gonna buy it. Thanks!

 

And it is!

It is amazing.

Yay!