Palmettes Mother-of-pearl Tamiya Raden Hand-fan

The Tango peninsula (nearby Kyoto) is the birthplace of an exceptional textile savoir-faire. The most famous of them is the Chirimen, a silk with a unique texture, made from twisted threads. This silk, along with other fabrics manufactured in the region, has been used for 300 years in the confection of kimonos.
To celebrate this unique know-how, the region of Tango has entrusted Duvelleroy with 6 weavings from different ateliers, in order to imagine one-of-a-kind hand-fans. Confronting cultures and know-hows across continents and times to build a bridge between traditional crafts and creativity for the future.

In this creation, Raden fabric from the Tamiya Raden Manufacture was used. This technique was originally developed for lacquerware, using extremely thin slices of mother-of-pearl. After years of research the Tamiya Raden manufacture succeeded in using mother-of-pearl inlays in the weaving.
The frame echoes the iridescent effect of the fabric. Each 1mm-thick stick is formed by a marquetery of mother-or-pearl. Up to 8 shells are needed to form the panache (the first stick). The craftsman covers the upper part of the extremely thin mother-of-pearl frame with silk.

Raden fabric from the Tamiya Raden Manufacture, Tango, Kyoto, Japan.
Haliotis mother-of-pearl from Mexico shaped by a tabletier maker in Spain.
Height: 9.06 inches Width: 15.75 inches