Lace fans inspired by the elements

 

This series of four bobbin lace fans inspired by the four elements has been in production for a while. It began with the blue, water fan, which I made for an exhibition in Valtopina, Italy in 2013. Having made the water fan I liked the concept of having a series of them representing the other elements of fire, earth and air. I decided to use the same format for all of them, with the same lace pattern, wire frame and silk paper making up the leaf of the fan, but in colours appropriate to the different elements. I decided on brown and beige colours for the earth; orange and red for fire; and the greys, blues, mauves and ivory you can see in the air fan below.

Although the elements are quite different, the finger like design of the bobbin lace worked well for them all, as it can represent water droplets, currents of air, flames of fire, and layers of earth. 

The silk paper surround also seems appropriate as it forms a firm barrier but also includes threads and layers representing aspects of the various elements. I finished the final piece of lace a while ago but have only just made the silk paper and combined it with the lace and wire frame. I’m pleased with the resulting set of fans and they make a nice group for exhibiting.