Sample Book of Japanese Paper Fan Designs: Uchiwaecho. Paper Fan Picture Book

Japan. Wraps. Ribbon holding leaves in stab binding. . Very Good. Absolutely charming, often whimsical, playful, cute and/or amusing, collection of fan designs, many featuring children and with slightly naive artwork befitting the illustrations of a colorful children's book. N.d., circa 1930s, based on the fashions and one Olympic-themed design, as well as the few with a jingoistic tenor -- this was the period of rising Japanese expansionism. Slightly oblong or squarish, 23.5 by 25 cm. One text page, followed by 139 color plates, each with a fan design. Many of the plates are brightly colored whimsical illustrations such as one might find in a children's book and of strong juvenile appeal, even when the subject matter doesn't include children. Other plates include more abstract and/or geometric designs, fish, insects, birds, views, A few of the designs incorporate photographs or illustrations created probably off of a photo. Most of the designs conform to the shape of a long single piece unfolded fan with rounded edges. The latter part of the book does contain designs without the fan shape. These designs are generally a little more generic and unequivocally non-juvenile in nature. We do not know whether these were designs intended for a more general purpose, or the assumption was that it would be easy enough to cut the paper to fit a fan-shape regardless. The book was published by a printing company, as opposed to a fan company. We are not sure the distinction matters. We believe that the book was presenting designs which could be ordered from the company to be used in the making a fan. Whether the fan would be made and sold by the printing company or made by another company or simply an amateur we can not say. Condition: the cover has some foxing and moderate wear, including flattened dog-ears. Scattered light foxing within, but generally the plates read clean and bright. A few paper edges slightly roughened.