Lacquered wood gunbai fan with shell inlay and two large cut-outs (damaged) L.: 46cm This is a Japanese war fan, known as a gunbai uchiwa, recognizable by its rigid shape and handle. Unlike folding fans used for refreshment, the gunbai was a ceremonial and command accessory worn by samurai generals on the battlefield. They used it to transmit visual orders to their troops, to protect themselves from the sun, or even to deflect arrows. The present example, in lacquered wood, is adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays and features two openwork cut-outs on either side of the central axis, giving it a particularly theatrical appearance. Its stylized decoration could also indicate ceremonial use or production for export, at a time when Japanese objects fascinated Western artists and travelers. While this type of object was undoubtedly brought back from Japan during a tour of Asia, it illustrates Emma Calvé's interest in foreign cultures and her marked taste for singular pieces, which she liked to collect in her Château de Cabrières.