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.

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

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 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…

Two Victorian carved ivory fan handles

Victorian Ivory Fan Handles

Two Victorian carved ivory fan handles

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

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

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)

Mother of pearl and silk fan.

Pearl & Silk Fan

Mother of pearl and silk fan.

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.

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

A white ostrich feather fan, with pearlised sticks.

Pearlised Stick White Ostrich Feather Fan

A white ostrich feather fan, with pearlised sticks.

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 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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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…

Lady's fan, with display stand

Display Stand Fan for Lady's Elegant Cooling

Lady's fan, with display stand

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).

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

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)

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

Bone fretwork fan (no ribbon) and another

Bone Fretwork Fan & Matching Piece

Bone fretwork fan (no ribbon) and another

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

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…

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

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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