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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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.

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

Early European hand painted ivory fan hand painted figures in a…

Hand Painted Ivory Fan in Gilded Frame

Early European hand painted ivory fan hand painted figures in a garden decoration, on ivory framed fan, enclosed in a gilded carved wood semicircular frame, diameter 57 cm frame.

Victorian hand made lace & mother of pearl fan in display frame

Victorian Lace Fan in Mother of Pearl Frame

Victorian hand made lace & mother of pearl fan in display frame

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

A white ostrich feather fan, with pearlised sticks.

Pearlised Stick White Ostrich Feather Fan

A white ostrich feather fan, with pearlised sticks.

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

An ostrich feather fan with resin staves

Resin-staved ostrich feather fan

An ostrich feather fan with resin staves

Roman Reyes Obatala fan timber & paint, height 28 cm

Obatala Timber Fan: 28cm Height

Roman Reyes Obatala fan timber & paint, height 28 cm

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

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

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 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

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

Early European folding fan, c1,800-30s, with pierced shaped and…

Antique European Folding Fan with Pierced Bone Guards and Scene

Early European folding fan, c1,800-30s, with pierced shaped and metal inlaid bone guards and matching sticks with mother-of-pearl edged rivet and shaped metal loop suspending a tassel, the paper double mount printed and over painted with a scene of…

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

Peacock feather fan height 41 cm

Peacock Feather Fan: Elegant 41cm Height

Peacock feather fan height 41 cm

Antique tortoiseshell & feather ladies fan

Tortoiseshell & Feather Fan for Ladies

Antique tortoiseshell & feather ladies fan

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.

A 19th century Viennese opera fan, mother of pearl sticks with…

Viennese Opera Fan Display Frame

A 19th century Viennese opera fan, mother of pearl sticks with lace and painted decoration, set into a gilt and velvet display frame. 63 x 44 cm.

A ladies antique fan, finely crafted in tortoiseshell and hand…

Antique Handcrafted Tortoiseshell Fan in Original Box

A ladies antique fan, finely crafted in tortoiseshell and hand worked lace, in original box marked 'J. Duvelleroy by Appointment, London, 167 Regent Street. Eventails Artistiques, Modernes, Antiques Et Pour Mariage fans Repaired', 19th century, 35 cm high…

A most attractive late 19th century hand-painted silk fan, with…

Hand-painted silk fan with fishing scene, signed by artist

A most attractive late 19th century hand-painted silk fan, with ebonised gilt heightened guards and sticks with floral surrounded rivet and metal loop; the silk leaf painted with a scene of a mill stream and various fishing activities. Signed by the…

An antique ladies fan, mother of pearl with silk sequin…

19th Century Mother of Pearl Ladies Fan with Original Box

An antique ladies fan, mother of pearl with silk sequin embroidery, 19th century, with original box, 23 cm high, 40 cm wide

A hand painted fan, French, 19th century, decorated with a…

French 19th Century Hand Painted Nocturnal Garden Fan

A hand painted fan, French, 19th century, decorated with a nocturnal garden scene, within a velvet lined conforming glazed and gilded case, 29 x 55 cm (case size)

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

An antique fan, mother of pearl and lace with gilded highlights…

Scottish Antique Mother of Pearl Fan in Silk Box

An antique fan, mother of pearl and lace with gilded highlights in original silk lined box bearing Scottish retailer's label, 19th century, the fan 25 cm high, 45 cm wide

Tortoiseshell fan, length 27 cm

27 cm Tortoiseshell Fan

Tortoiseshell fan, length 27 cm

An antique French fan, carved ivory with hand-painted scene,…

19th Century French Ivory Fan with Hand-painted Scene

An antique French fan, carved ivory with hand-painted scene, signed lower right (illegible), early 19th century, 19 cm high, 32 cm wide

An antique fan, pearl shell and lace with hand-painted scene…

Hand-painted Antique Fan with Pearl and Lace Detailing

An antique fan, pearl shell and lace with hand-painted scene signed 'Simone', 19th century, 25 cm high, 45 cm wide

A framed tortoise shell and peacock feather Art Deco fan, width…

Art Deco Fan with Tortoise Shell and Peacock Feather

A framed tortoise shell and peacock feather Art Deco fan, width 71 cm

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.

Two vintage ostrich feather fans

Vintage Ostrich Feather Fans Pair

Two vintage ostrich feather fans

A framed antique hand painted fan with parrots and blossoms,…

Antique Parrot Fan Painting

A framed antique hand painted fan with parrots and blossoms, 19th century, 41 x 44 cm overall

A Victorian novelty fan, the centre adorned with a hummingbird…

Victorian Hummingbird Feather Fan

A Victorian novelty fan, the centre adorned with a hummingbird on white feathers, the reverse with a floral design made from further irridescent feathers, carved mother of pearl handle, circa 1870s. Height: 35 cm.

A large and impressive ostrich feather fan, with mother of…

Mother of Pearl Ostrich Feather Fan

A large and impressive ostrich feather fan, with mother of pearl sticks. Length to tip of feathers: 60 cm.

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'.

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…

Three Victorian ostrich feather fans, one with carved ivory…

Victorian Ostrich Feather Fans with Ivory and Tortoiseshell Spines

Three Victorian ostrich feather fans, one with carved ivory spines, and two with tortoiseshell. Fan height: 35 cm approx. (3)

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…

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…

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 19th century French folding fan, with carved ivory sticks and…

19th Century French and English Fans

A 19th century French folding fan, with carved ivory sticks and guards, heightened in gilt, with a painted silk leaf of a courting couple amongst scrolling floral work, fan open: 35 cm x 19 cm. Together with a late 19th century English fan, the leaf…

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)

A 19th century Continental ivory brise fan, painted with…

Ivory Violet Painted Brise Fan with Blue Sash

A 19th century Continental ivory brise fan, painted with violets to one side, the other plain, ivory ring with long blue silk sash. Width open: 40 x 23 cm.

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'.

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

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)

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)

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

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