Featured I am a fan fan!

I use fans too, and can do the open and close thing, but I only do that on the ones that are not antique, of course. In summer I always carry one of those small Chinese sandalwood fans in my handbag, just in case.
18th century fans are rare, you are right to treasure it.

 

It is a fontange fan, named after the 17th-18th century high headdress of the same name. They are pretty rare. Pity about the stain, but a beautiful fan.

 

I have only a few 18th century ones framed, and a few fan leaves which were already framed when I bought them. The rest I either have on display, or in boxes.

Some more fans from the collection for the fan fans.
Ca 1880 mother of pearl and Brussels lace:


An early advertising fan, hand painted, with sequins:

Detail of the same fan:


A 1994 Dutch poetry fan. Women poets were asked to write a short poem about a fan. This one "Darling Wind", asks the fan to tell the flowers to greet with every movement caused by the wind.


1890s silk on silk embroidered fan:


And a detail, just imagine the amount of work that went into it:

 

Need a *love* button. So exquisite. I couldn't have anything that delicate here, would get destroyed ... I love all the fans you have shown, don't think I could even pick a fav. DO love the lower one,black silk handpainted YUMMM

 

Thanks, Boo.

Even better, hand embroidered, amazing isn't it.

 

Hi,
Does anyone know someone who repairs fans. I have a feather fan that needs some help. Sorry no pictures. Ran out of batteries and it so humid do not want to go out.
greg

 

Hi Greg, here is a site of a lady in Arizona who repairs fans:
http://www.fanrestoration.com/
She also has some good fan links on her pages.

 

OH GOD! I thought I'd started to read posts properly too...goodness,EMBROIDERED! That work...makes me quite quite faint.
Good lord. Amazed

 

Hi AJ,
I contacted her about three years ago. Sent her photos and she agreed to repair for 375 dollars. The darling fan was my great aunts and special but the cost was just a lot more than the fans worth. I was hoping to find some with a skilled hand to repair it for a lot less. I used to do repairs but my fingers are too fat and shaky to do should work. Oh well.
greg

 

Hi Greg, such a pity you don't live near me, I would love to repair such a keepsake for you, as long as it is minor damage.

 

Some more goodies.
My grandmother's dance lesson fans, which got me collecting fans. Handpainted celluloid, ca 1910:


A 19th century telescope fan, a bit stained, but I wanted a telescope fan for my collection. It is bone with satin and sequins.
Stage 1, small enough to put in a drawstring purse:


Stage 2, you pull the top to the left while holding the bottom in place:


Stage 3, a regular fan, no sign that it was so small:


The quirky Japanese ladies fan, early souvenir, late 19th century. All ladies carry parasols and rigid feather summer fans, the white purple edged things near the waistbands:

 

Wow AJ I'm not sure where you put all your collections, but I feel like you could start your own museum!

 

I'm not sure where I put them either. But the good thing about fans is that you can fold them, well most of them.
I think many of us could start a museum.

 

Joseph Addison, 1711, "Exercise of the Fan":
http://www2.scc.rutgers.edu/spectator/text/june1711/no102.html

And some follow-up comments:
https://teainateacup.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/the-language-of-the-fan-myth-or-fact/

 

I was taught that it is quite rude and crude to make that loud cracking noise when flicking a fan open. It sound like you are angry and ruins the fan when done too often. So the satire on the fan is right imo.

 

@gregsglass As AJ I'd be happy to help with your feathers fan... some pics when you'll be ready to photography the damages may help to give you some advice

 

I display my belle epoque ostrich feathers fans on my wall
Mounted in blonde turtle shell, gold and diamond initials, Nini the cat hasn't tried yet to catch them...

 

Beautiful fans, kyra, and a very inviting setting.

 

Thanks AJ
A little cosy corner, no more fragile display on the table since we have Nini the cat

 

Nini looks very sophisticated with that polka dot bow. I think I have a lace doll's fan somewhere to complete the look.