Japanese Vintage Uchiwa Fans with Red Lotus - sold individually Chinese cinnabar as Smiley went on to

as Smiley went on to earn her BA at Sarah Lawrence and to work as a painter and curator in NY until moving to Wellesley

I purchased it at an estate sale in Sudbury

The box itself

I believe reading SP '99

I've learned that it was made by Lionel Electric Trains

Japanese Vintage Uchiwa Fans with Red Lotus - sold individually Chinese cinnabar as Smiley went on toI'd guess the red lotus design on this pair of vintage Japanese Uchiwa fans is a logo of some sort that corresponds with the name of a business on the back if only I could read Japanese! My guess might be an airline, but perhaps a restaurant whatever the case, I think they are pretty lovely things, I'd guess 1950s 60s, and would be inclined to tie a red ribbon around the handles and hang them on the wall. Both are of the same design lotus on the front