Artwork copyright Alfred D. Ward. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Hand Fan, 1981

Alfred D. Ward
British (born 1942, died 2023)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Hand Fan is a wood, steel, and brass sculpture created by artist Alfred D. Ward. It is part of his body of work of decorative and functional sculptures. Describing his process, Ward notes, "The handle was hand forged from one piece of steel and secured to the brass mount by silver solder. The decoration in the steel blade was hand cut using a fine piercing saw. The walnut blade is secured to the brass mount by steel pins and industrial adhesive. When constructed, the whole fan blade was shaped down to a slow taper by hand filing."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Ward grew up outside of London during World War II (1939-1945) and graduated from the Canterbury College of Art in 1962. He taught art, design, and metalsmithing at several British colleges, and also led art departments and art schools in England and the United States, including the University of Michigan, Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Appalachian Center for Crafts in Tennessee, and Winthrop University in South Carolina. His work is in many museums, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.