Vintage Korean hand-painted tiger folding fan, dated 1941, featuring a dramatic tiger design on warm-toned paper with bamboo ribs and handwritten inscriptions.
The fan is marked “Korea” and appears to include a handwritten place name that has been read as Chonju/Chunju, corresponding to modern Jeonju, Korea. Jeonju is historically renowned for traditional Korean folding-fan craftsmanship, particularly bamboo-framed folding fans made with hanji paper.
The fan is also dated 1941, placing it during the Japanese colonial period, before Korea was divided into North and South Korea in 1948.
Details:
Dated 1941
Marked Korea
Inscription appears to reference Chonju / modern Jeonju
Hand-painted tiger design
Bamboo folding construction
Paper fan leaf
Handwritten East Asian characters
Decorative hanging cord
Vintage Korean folk-art / souvenir collectible
This piece came from the home of a Korean War veteran. While there is no documentation proving that he personally purchased the fan overseas, the veteran-household provenance adds meaningful historical context.
Condition:
Vintage pre-owned condition with visible age-related wear, discoloration, surface marks, and wear to the paper and bamboo consistent with age. Please review all photos carefully, particularly the handwritten inscriptions, ribs, edges, and painted surface.
Historical note:
Traditional Korean folding fans have a long history, and Jeonju remains particularly associated with fan making. The fan’s bamboo construction, painted decoration, and apparent Jeonju reference make that connection especially interesting, although the individual artist or workshop has not been identified.
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