Fans were first used in Western Europe in the Middle Ages. Many of the more intricate ones carried concealed knives or stilettos, as it was often dangerous to walk alone after nightfall or in a dark alley, especially in Renaissance Italy. Fans were of course functional, serving to keep off flies, shield one from the heat of a fire, or create a current of fresh air. Gradually, fans became an almost essential accessory for the fashionable, and no skill or expense was spared in their design and manufacture.

At the beginning of the 19th century, fans were considered an indispensable dress accessory for ladies attending balls and other functions. Three major types of fan were in use at that time.

Folding fans, the most common, consisted of leaves mounted on sticks which were joined at the foot. Paper was used in the cheaper fans, but parchment, made from the skin more...

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Abanicos Giner Spain hand made fan hand painted, blossom…

Hand-painted Blossom Decorated Lace Fan by Abanicos Giner Spain

Abanicos Giner Spain hand made fan hand painted, blossom decorated lace fan, with original label and packaging, height 30 cm.

Two antique bone fans one in an original boxes both damaged

Damaged Antique Bone Fans in Original Boxes

Two antique bone fans one in an original boxes both damaged

An outdoor folding fan style umbrella, height 210 cm, diameter…

Foldable Outdoor Fan Umbrella - 210cm Height, 170cm Diameter

An outdoor folding fan style umbrella, height 210 cm, diameter 170 cm

Collection six various decorative fans including: two various…

Eclectic Decorative Fan Collection

Collection six various decorative fans including: two various Spanish fans; a Balinese batik fa; and three various Oriental paper folding fans.

Vintage mother of pearl & lace ladies fan with hand painted…

Hand-painted Floral Mother of Pearl Ladies Fan

Vintage mother of pearl & lace ladies fan with hand painted floral decoration

Antique hand painted folding fan, a/f, mounted in a gilt frame…

Antique Hand-Painted Folding Fan in Gilt Frame

Antique hand painted folding fan, a/f, mounted in a gilt frame 34 cm x 46 cm

Two French fans with black lace decoration, 20 cm long (2)

Black Lace French Fans - 20cm (2)

Two French fans with black lace decoration, 20 cm long (2)

Two vintage ladies fans one with classical and gilt decoration,…

Vintage Ladies Fans: Classical and Lace Decoration

Two vintage ladies fans one with classical and gilt decoration, some repairs and the other with lace decoration

Antique horn fan and tortoiseshell guitar 32 cm long approx…

Antique Horn Fan & Tortoiseshell Guitar Set

Antique horn fan and tortoiseshell guitar 32 cm long approx (fan)

Five small late 19th/early 20th century black sequinned folding…

Set of Five Black Sequinned Folding Fans

Five small late 19th/early 20th century black sequinned folding fans, each with a sequin design on gauze, one with folding mechanism, length 18 - 22 cm. (5)

Vintage ostrich feather fan comprising 20 ribs of ostrich…

Early 1900s Ostrich Feather Fan

Vintage ostrich feather fan comprising 20 ribs of ostrich feathers. Circa early 1900s.(Height 35 cm, width 50 cm, extended).

Two large Oriental hand painted fans with birds and floral…

Oriental Hand Painted Fans with Birds and Florals

Two large Oriental hand painted fans with birds and floral decoration, 1.8m largest fan open

Four souvenir paper hand fans, the first from the Eiffel Tower…

Collection of Vintage Souvenir Hand Fans

Four souvenir paper hand fans, the first from the Eiffel Tower 1889, open: 60 x 33 cm; the second from the Hotel Oriental at Kobe, each fold with signature of guests dated 1903, open: 41 x 26 cm; the third 'Toute Femme Elegante', printed by V. Espi, Paris…

Victorian papier mache hand fan black lacquered with hand…

Victorian Hand Fan with Floral Spray and Gilded Corners

Victorian papier mache hand fan black lacquered with hand painted floral spray and gilded corners on ebonised baluster handle, 23 cm width

Roman Reyes Obatala fan timber & paint, height 28 cm

Obatala Timber Fan: 28cm Height

Roman Reyes Obatala fan timber & paint, height 28 cm

A pair of Italian white ceramic fan leaf pattern lamps with…

Italian Ceramic Fan Leaf Lamps with Shades (63cm)

A pair of Italian white ceramic fan leaf pattern lamps with shades, height 63 cm

Bone fretwork fan (no ribbon) and another

Bone Fretwork Fan & Matching Piece

Bone fretwork fan (no ribbon) and another

Fine silver filigree breeze fan mount and sticks, fine silver…

Fine Silver Filigree Fan Mount and Sticks

Fine silver filigree breeze fan mount and sticks, fine silver filigree brise fan mount and sticks

Peacock feather fan height 41 cm

Peacock Feather Fan: Elegant 41cm Height

Peacock feather fan height 41 cm

Three vintage wooden fans, on in original box (damage)

Vintage Wooden Fans with Original Box (Damaged)

Three vintage wooden fans, on in original box (damage)

Victorian bone and lace fan, the sticks decorated with floral…

Victorian Bone and Lace Fan with Floral Motif and Box

Victorian bone and lace fan, the sticks decorated with floral motif, with original box, length 35 cm

Early 20th century French fan, set with two batons and fouteen…

French Mother of Pearl Fan with Gilt Decoration

Early 20th century French fan, set with two batons and fouteen sticks, in mother of pearl, with gilt decoration with silk fan painted with birds in flight, a/f, length 37 cm

An early 20th century red stained ostrich feather fan and hat…

Red Ostrich Feather Fan and White Hat Adornment

An early 20th century red stained ostrich feather fan and hat adornment, the fan with faux tortoiseshell sticks (56 cm), the hat adornment of white long feathers with gilt and aluminium fittings. (38 cm).

Lady's fan, with display stand

Display Stand Fan for Lady's Elegant Cooling

Lady's fan, with display stand

Four late 19th century black hand fans, the first ribbon work…

Late 19th Century Black Hand Fans (Set of 4)

Four late 19th century black hand fans, the first ribbon work with carved black sticks and guards, fan open: 64 x 35 cm; the second black satin leaf with white painted flowers, fan open: 66 x 35 cm; third painted with blossom and a monogram, open: 55 x 31…

Victorian mother of pearl folding fan. lady's lace fan with…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Lace Fan

Victorian mother of pearl folding fan. lady's lace fan with mother of pearl and ivory struts. Losses to three struts. Length 22 cm

Antique French Ivory and lace fan, with handpainted romantic…

Romantic Hand-Painted Ivory Lace Fan

Antique French Ivory and lace fan, with handpainted romantic scene

A Victorian ladies fan faux ivory, pink silk satin; extra long…

Victorian Faux Ivory Fan with Extra Long Chain

A Victorian ladies fan faux ivory, pink silk satin; extra long chain; American; excellent condition fan: 25 cm span, chain: 60 cm

A Victorian black fabric fan with black and gilt sticks, circa…

Victorian Black Fabric Fan with Gilt Sticks (1880)

A Victorian black fabric fan with black and gilt sticks, circa 1880

Edwardian pierced bone & silk ladies fan with hand painted…

Floral Hand-Painted Edwardian Ladies Fan

Edwardian pierced bone & silk ladies fan with hand painted floral decoration

An ostrich feather fan with resin staves

Resin-staved ostrich feather fan

An ostrich feather fan with resin staves

Edwardian fan, with black plum feathers on faux tortoise shell…

Plum Feathered Edwardian Fan

Edwardian fan, with black plum feathers on faux tortoise shell batons

Finely painted fan with bone spines (slight A/F)

Exquisite Bone-Spined Fan with Delicate Painting

Finely painted fan with bone spines (slight A/F)

Victorian bone handmaid lace fan in original box

Victorian Bone Lace Fan in Original Box

Victorian bone handmaid lace fan in original box

Antique tortoiseshell & feather ladies fan

Tortoiseshell & Feather Fan for Ladies

Antique tortoiseshell & feather ladies fan

Antique tortoiseshell fan handpainted with flowers,

Flower-painted Tortoiseshell Fan

Antique tortoiseshell fan handpainted with flowers,

A 19th century Canton export ivory and silk fan the outer ivory…

Dragon Embroidered Canton Fan

A 19th century Canton export ivory and silk fan the outer ivory guard sticks carved in relief opening to reveal a silk interior embroidered with dragon, breaks to both guard ends. 20 cm long

A beautiful souvenir fan showing the exhibition grounds with…

Eiffel Tower Souvenir Fan

A beautiful souvenir fan showing the exhibition grounds with the Eiffel Tower in the centre; blossoms and birds at right; signed Derose; back blank. 64 cm wide (when extended).

A 19th century mother of pearl and lace fan, a pair of Spanish…

Mother of Pearl Spanish Dancer Fan

A 19th century mother of pearl and lace fan, a pair of Spanish dancers painted to the middle of the lace, the bone sticks very skilfully joined to the mother of pearl, with ribbon and tassel, in original cream satin box. Length 32 cm. Provenance: The…

A white ostrich feather fan, with pearlised sticks.

Pearlised Stick White Ostrich Feather Fan

A white ostrich feather fan, with pearlised sticks.

Good vintage carved bone and silk fan, with rose decoration in…

Vintage Rose Carved Bone Silk Fan in Original Box

Good vintage carved bone and silk fan, with rose decoration in original box

Two vintage ostrich feather fans

Vintage Ostrich Feather Fans Pair

Two vintage ostrich feather fans

Collection vintage ivory miscellaneous pieces including: early…

Vintage Ivory Collection

Collection vintage ivory miscellaneous pieces including: early feather decorated hand held fan; carved ivory bead necklace; carved ivory needle case; and a carved ivory finial piece; and scene.

Mother of pearl and silk fan.

Pearl & Silk Fan

Mother of pearl and silk fan.

Antique French sequin hand fan, decorated with oval medallions…

Antique French sequin hand fan, decorated with oval medallions and swags, length 22 cm, with French retailers box (2)

Georgian hand painted silk fan, signed

Signed Georgian Silk Fan: Hand-Painted Beauty

Georgian hand painted silk fan, signed

Hand painted silk fan, signed F Houbron, birds

Signed Bird Fan on Hand-Painted Silk by F. Houbron

Hand painted silk fan, signed F Houbron, birds

Two antique handpainted fans

Antique Handpainted Fans: A Pair of Treasures

Two antique handpainted fans

Large antique mother of pearl fan, on in original box, fan in…

Antique Mother of Pearl Fan in Original Box (Poor Condition)

Large antique mother of pearl fan, on in original box, fan in poor condition

Two Victorian carved ivory fan handles

Victorian Ivory Fan Handles

Two Victorian carved ivory fan handles

A group of late 19th/Early 20th century French fans, including…

French Fans Collection, Late 19th/Early 20th Century

A group of late 19th/Early 20th century French fans, including a hand painted brise fan, a painted and printed pink satin leaf fan with ivory sticks and guards, a plain ivory and bone example, and a smaller satin and sequin example with bone sticks and…

A celluloid fretwork fan 19th century (slight A/F) length 16 cm

19th Century Celluloid Fretwork Fan - A/F

A celluloid fretwork fan 19th century (slight A/F) length 16 cm

A miniature folding fan, carved whalebone and silk, early 19th…

Whalebone and Silk Miniature Folding Fan

A miniature folding fan, carved whalebone and silk, early 19th century, 7 cm high, 10.5 cm wide

Rare pair of Australian paper fans, 19th century, each…

Australian Paper Fans with Flower Baskets

Rare pair of Australian paper fans, 19th century, each decorated with a basket of flowers, with gilded turned wood handle (2), length 45 cm. Provenance: Warwick Oakman Antiques, Hobart. Collection of George and Adisa Pompei, Sydney

A beautiful souvenir fan showing the exhibition grounds with…

Paris Exhibition Fan

A beautiful souvenir fan showing the exhibition grounds with the Eiffel Tower in the foreground and on the back the Palace du Trocadero. 60 cm wide (when extended).

Tortoise shell fan having eighteen panels, eck pierced with…

Floral and Butterfly Carved Tortoise Shell Fan

Tortoise shell fan having eighteen panels, eck pierced with floral detail & carved with butterflies. Bound with silk & with a tortoisesheel latch to the base. Condition: good, minor age related wear. Length 20.5 cm

An early 20th century decorative carved bone and hand painted…

Carved Bone Fan with Biblical Scene

An early 20th century decorative carved bone and hand painted fan, opening to reveal a classical biblical figured scene, the sticks finely carved and painted, the box with gilt label detailed 'Ortell's Valencia', height 23 cm.

An antique sequined silk and blonde horn fan, length 19 cm, in…

An antique sequined silk and blonde horn fan, length 19 cm, in box

Georgian Papier-Mâche fan. Georgian Papier-Mâché…

Georgian Mother of Pearl Fan

Georgian Papier-Mâche fan. Georgian Papier-Mâché fan having mother of pearl detail on a a gilded timber turned handle. Condition fair, loose handle & some losses to the mother of pearl. Length 37 cm

Framed Victorian mother of pearland lace fan, width 57 cm approx

Victorian Mother of Pearl Lace Fan

Framed Victorian mother of pearland lace fan, width 57 cm approx

Framed lace fan 63 cm wide

Lace Fan Frame - 63cm Wide

Framed lace fan 63 cm wide

Mid 19th century French cased fan, in tortoise shell with…

French Tortoise Shell Fan with Silver Pique and Lace Brocade

Mid 19th century French cased fan, in tortoise shell with silver pique work to the batons and pierced sticks united by eru handmade lace brocade

Antique tortoiseshell fan with velvet cover,

Velvet-covered Tortoiseshell Fan

Antique tortoiseshell fan with velvet cover,

A lady's fan, tortoise shell and ostrich feather, late 19th…

Tortoise and Feather Fan

A lady's fan, tortoise shell and ostrich feather, late 19th century, 21 cm high, 30 cm wide

Antique hand painted silk and sequin fan, depicting a courting…

"Courting Scene" Fan

Antique hand painted silk and sequin fan, depicting a courting scene

Antique French Fabrique D'Eventails lace fan with mother of…

French Lace Fan with Mother of Pearl Fittings

Antique French Fabrique D'Eventails lace fan with mother of pearl fittings, 35 cm high

An antique Belgian lace and ivory fan, 19th century, the…

Belgian Lace Ivory Fan, 19th Century

An antique Belgian lace and ivory fan, 19th century, the folding fan with ivory sticks engraved and highlighted in gilt and with tiny dots of silver inlay, height 21.5 cm, width 41 cm

A framed French fan, 19th century, the fan with an abolone…

19th Century French Abalone Fan in Framed Display

A framed French fan, 19th century, the fan with an abolone inset bone handle, mounted open to reveal printed jovial scene of mother and children playing. Framed and glazed. The frame 32 cm x 54 cm x 4 cm

Vintage tortoiseshell fan

Antique Tortoiseshell Fan

Vintage tortoiseshell fan

Antique French fan, XIXth century, pierced carved ivory grills,…

19th Century Hand-Colored Ivory Fan with Carved Grills

Antique French fan, XIXth century, pierced carved ivory grills, hand coloured engraved scene

Antique French fan, hand painted printed gallante scene,…

French Gallante Fan with Carved Bone Grills

Antique French fan, hand painted printed gallante scene, pierced carved bone grills

Antique French fan 19th century, ivory grill, engraved and…

19th Century French Ivory Fan with Gallant Countryside Scene

Antique French fan 19th century, ivory grill, engraved and pierced lithograph paper, gallant scene in the country side

19th century lace and tortoiseshell fan, accented with sequins,…

19th century lace and tortoiseshell fan, accented with sequins, on a black gauze ground, length 24 cm, with original box (2)

A black satin lady's fan, late 19th century, decorated with…

Cockatoo Satin Fan in Timber Frame

A black satin lady's fan, late 19th century, decorated with cockatoos, leaves and flowers, house in a timber frame, 40 x 71 cm

A 19th century mother of pearl and hand painted silk fan, the…

Hand-painted Mother of Pearl Fan with Brass Inlay

A 19th century mother of pearl and hand painted silk fan, the sticks pierced and inlaid with cut brass, pinned by a decorative gilt metal bale, the silk decorated with flowers, some distress.

A 19th century ivory brise fan, the sticks with scalloped edges,…

19th Century Ivory Brise Fan with Silk Tassel and Box

A 19th century ivory brise fan, the sticks with scalloped edges, and attached silk wrist tassle. Fan open: 37 x 21 cm. In silk lined box for 'P. Burgos Y Cia/ Buenos Aires'.

Victorian mother of pearl lace opera fan, featuring mother of…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Lace Opera Fan

Victorian mother of pearl lace opera fan, featuring mother of pearl ribs with inlaid flower and foliage design, with original purchase history, length 27 cm

Victorian black lace fan, the sticks with a pierced fretted…

Victorian Black Lace Fan with Fretted Sticks, A/F

Victorian black lace fan, the sticks with a pierced fretted design, a/f, length 35 cm

French 19th century ivory & silk fan in box, hand painted with…

19th Century Hand-Painted Ivory Fan in Silk Box

French 19th century ivory & silk fan in box, hand painted with a female holding a bird, overall length approx 30 cm. Box in cream silk and hand painted with pink, yellow and white flowers, green stalks and leaves. J. Duvelleroy, by appointment 167 Regent…

Gold framed bone and silk fan with hand painted floral…

Floral Fan: Gold Frame, Bone & Silk

Gold framed bone and silk fan with hand painted floral decorations

Victorian tortoiseshell and ostrich feather fan, comprising two…

Victorian tortoiseshell and ostrich feather fan, comprising two guards and twenty sticks, each with a large ostrich feather, in tones of brown and white, with a loop handle to the base, length 38 cm

1937 swan feather and mother of pearl fan

Swan Feather Fan with Mother of Pearl

1937 swan feather and mother of pearl fan

Victorian mother of pearl fan with hand painted floral detail,…

Victorian Mother of Pearl Fan in Framed Floral Detail

Victorian mother of pearl fan with hand painted floral detail, in a frame. Dimensions of frame. 81 x 53 cm

Three fan leaves calligraphy & paintings ink and watercolour on…

Trilogy of Fan Leaves: Ink and Watercolour Calligraphy

Three fan leaves calligraphy & paintings ink and watercolour on paper

A 19th century ivory brise fan, the sticks with scalloped edges,…

Scalloped Ivory Brise Fan with Silk Tassel in Box

A 19th century ivory brise fan, the sticks with scalloped edges, and attached silk wrist tassle. Fan open: 37 x 21 cm. In silk lined box for 'P. Burgos Y Cia/ Buenos Aires'.

A 19th century French mother of pearl and silk fan, the leaf…

Romantic French Mother of Pearl Fan with Cherubs

A 19th century French mother of pearl and silk fan, the leaf painted with romantic scenes of a couple and cherubs, applied sequins, the finely pierced and carved mother of pearl sticks heightened in gilt and the guards with cherubs and cornucopia. Fan…

Two 19th century European fans, framed in probably bone, silver…

Antique European Fans: Lace and Metal Framed Treasures

Two 19th century European fans, framed in probably bone, silver metal, needlework and lace.

Antique French fan, carved ivory grills, hand painted figures…

Hand-painted French ivory fan with carved grills

Antique French fan, carved ivory grills, hand painted figures in landscape

Antique French fan, hand coloured figures in rural scene, hand…

Hand-painted French fan with rural scene and bone grills

Antique French fan, hand coloured figures in rural scene, hand coloured and painted ends, pierced and incised bone grills

Antique French XIX century fan, carved blonde horn, engraved in…

Gold-embroidered French horn fan from 19th century

Antique French XIX century fan, carved blonde horn, engraved in gold, embroidered tulle leaf gold grills

Antique French fan, hand coloured, gallant scene, pierced and…

Jewelled Gallantry: Antique French Hand Fan

Antique French fan, hand coloured, gallant scene, pierced and jewelled grills

Hand fan. Mother of pearl handle, hand painted depicting…

Angel Scene Hand Fan with Mother of Pearl Handle

Hand fan. Mother of pearl handle, hand painted depicting angelic scene of two young ladies seated, surrounded by four cupids & two doves, linked by a floral garland, late 19th century, width 54 cm

An interesting hand painted lace fan in carved frame. 59 cm…

Hand-painted lace fan in carved frame

An interesting hand painted lace fan in carved frame. 59 cm high, 93 cm wide

An antique crochet and ivory fan, length 22 cm, in box

An antique crochet and ivory fan, length 22 cm, in box

Two framed fans, English, 19th century

English 19th Century Framed Fans

Two framed fans, English, 19th century