HAND FANS

HAND FANS

 HAND FANS

Most of the ancient civilizations of the world have used the fan at some period in their development. The early history of the fan is unknown but it was almost certainly derived from the use of plant leaves to cause a movement of the air. The word 'fan' comes from the Latin vannus, which means an instrument for winnowing grain, but whether this usage re­flects the first use of fans is uncertain. It is likely that the Chinese and Japanese have the longest continual history of fan use, which in China may date back to at least 2500 B.C.

The Japanese were the first to invent the folding fan in the 7th century A.D. The early fans from both countries were made in a wide variety of materials, designs and techniques, reflect­ing somewhat the social importance that was long attached to the fan. For the Japanese, for instance, the fan is full of symbolism: the rivet-end is seen as the beginning of life and as the fan widens it reflects the widening choices and experiences of life.

 HAND FANS

In the Middle East the fan may have started life as a fly-whisk, varieties of which are still used throughout Africa today. The sophisticated Egyptians were probably the first to make advances on fly-whisk design and their personal fans became semi-circular structures which fitted into long ivory or wooden handles. Similar fans spread into Rome, Grccce and southern Europe, where, as in Egypt they began to gain some symbolic and ritual importance.

The flabellum, or fly-whisk, was used in the Christian churches until the 15th century, its function being to keep insects out of the chalice during services. In the 16th century, as the use of the ecclesiastical fan finally died out, the Portuguese reached Japan and China and were able to bring back examples of folding fans. For the next century and a half fans remained very much the plaything of the rich, their surfaces set with gems and precious metals and their handles of ivory, gold and silver. The first folding fans in England probably came from Italy via France in the second half of the 16th century.

The most fashionable type of fan in this period was the feather fan made from peacock, ostrich and parakeet feathers. Decoupe fans of paper or vellum appeared in the late 16th century although only two examples from that century are known to exist today. By the 17th century fans were indispensable for the fashion conscious woman and the most widely used type was now the folding fan.

By the reign of Henri IV in France (1589-1610) the fan industry had grown to such an extent that it was necessary to regulate it by law. By 1753 there were over 150 master fan makers in Paris alone.

The first specifically French fan was the so-called brise type which consisted of many wide continuous sticks and lacked a mount.

The continuous surface was ideal for painting. Although they were first made in the 17th century the collector is unlikely to come across examples earlier than the 18th century. Most notable of the brise fans are Vernis Martin which are skilfully painted in thin oil colours and the whole surface then coloured and gilded and coated with a special varnish devised by the Martin brothers c.1720. The predominant colours of these fans are dark greens and blues.

 HAND FANS

By the reign of Louis XVI brise fans had become smaller and their decoration inspired more by Chinese openwork ivory fans. French open­work is characterized by the use of three medallion motifs linked by garlands of flowers often carved in very low relief. The medallions were usually portraits or rural scenes and sometimes bridal scenes.

The French ivory workers of this period were finely skilled, piercing diaper patterns of thread-like thickness. Flat-piercing of horn was employed while less formal fans of perforated cedar and satinwood, either painted or engraved, were made. Cabriolet fans appeared in the mid-18th century. Reversible fans, which could be opened either way thus offering two pictures, were made late in the century from either ivory or sandalwood with the typical three medallion motifs. After the French Revolution French fans underwent considerable changes becom­ing smaller and less well-painted. It was not until the 1830s that high- quality fans were again produced.

 HAND FANS

The use of the fan in Europe is most closely identified with the Spanish for it was in their country that fans were most widely used. A high propor­tion of their carved ivory fans were imported from France and finished by Spanish workers. Spanish fans are characterized by being a little larger and darker than other European ones as well as by having unusual leaf to stick proportions. Painted decoration is often less skilful than on the average French fan. Popular themes included the bull ring, scenes of royalty, great battles and national triumphs.