The Guangzhou Museum in Guangzhou recently opened an exhibition featuring 163 carefully preserved Chinese export fans dating back to the 16th to 18th centuries. 

The historic fans feature exquisite craftsmanship with beautiful ornamentation and coloring. They combine the top craftsmanship techniques from the East and West and offer visitors a peek into the aesthetic preferences of Westerners at the time.

A goose feather fan with an ivory handle. [Photo/gdmuseum.com]

In the 16th century, the opening of the East-West maritime route gave birth to large-scale trade, and Chinese goods received widespread popularity in the Western market. Chinese artisans, especially from Guangzhou, adapted their skills to Western aesthetics to create a large number of both Chinese and Western-style fans for export. These fans were relatively inexpensive, which met the demands of Western customers and helped "Made in Canton" become a world-famous phrase. 

The exhibition gives visitors a chance to appreciate the elegance of China's export fans while learning about the Maritime Silk Road and cultural relations between the East and the West from the 18th to 20th centuries.

The exhibition will run until May 5.

An antique Chinese export fan featuring delicate patterns. [Photo/gdmuseum.com]