Tiffany & Co. Antique Carved Mother of Pearl Handheld Fan with Case

This antique Tiffany & Co. carved mother of pearl fan is an exceptional example of the firm’s late 19th to early 20th century luxury accessories. Crafted in luminous mother-of-pearl, the fan is composed of finely carved and pierced guards and sticks, each panel decorated with floral, foliate, and classical motifs that reflect the European fan making traditions Tiffany favored during this era. The workmanship shows the precision and depth characteristic of hand-carved mother-of-pearl pieces produced for the American and French luxury market at the turn of the century.

The fan is housed in its original Tiffany & Co. New York presentation case, lined in silk and stamped in gilt, which helps date the piece to the late Victorian or Edwardian period. During this time, Tiffany retailed a small selection of elaborate personal accessories, including mother of pearl fans, which were sought after by their society clientele as elegant objects for formal events. Fans of this quality would have been carried at the opera, debutante balls, or evening receptions, serving as both functional accessories and markers of refinement.

The mother-of-pearl throughout displays a soft iridescence, with intricate pierced work that remains crisp. Its overall condition is consistent with age, showing gentle wear to the surfaces while retaining its structural integrity and detailing. Fans of this type are increasingly scarce, particularly when preserved with their original Tiffany & Co. case.