Provenance

• 1890s: the fan was designed by Walter Crane (1845-1915) and decorated by numerous people in artistic circles, including Whistler, probably for Lady Jean Palmer née Craig (d. 1909), wife of Sir Walter Palmer (1858-1910) of Huntley & Palmer Biscuits;
• 1910: sold at auction, Sotheby's, London, 4 May 1910 (lot 195) as 'A Uniquely Decorated Fan … formed by a lady of exalted rank (since deceased)', bought by 'Amory';
• 1911: with Ernest Brown & Phillips, London art dealers.
• 2009: sold at auction, New Jersey, and bought by a private collector;
• 2012: after the death of Stephen Harry Banks in 2011, passed to Steve Banks Fine Arts Inc., San Francisco.

Exhibitions

It was not, as far as is known, exhibited in Whistler's lifetime.