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Slate fan with circular geometric flower design, heart and two circular designs incised on to stand.

This fan shows just how skilful quarrymen were. Starting with a piece of easily split slate, the quarryman used a saw to cut a pattern along the long sides, and make a hole on one end. Then came the hard work. Using a small chisel, the slate was split into lots of thin blades. A finished fan could have dozens of blades.