Hand-fans from Paris to flirt with or just make you smile. Fan d’Eventails, Paris.

Hand-fan, the skin leaf delicately painted with scenes of amorous daydreams. Mother-of-pearl sticks and guards pierced, carved and applied with golden foils. ca. 1890. French. Signed Donzel (Jules Donzel 1865-1928, France). Image © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3479-amorous-daydreams-fan-by-jules-donzel-circa-1890.html
Hand-fan, the silk leaf painted with a scene of beauty and love. Wooden sticks and guards. ca. 1880-1890. French. Signed Zaborowska (French painter Gabrielle Eylé-Zaborowska 1852-1938). Image © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3478-beauties-and-love-fan-by-zaborowska-circa-1880-90.html

Brisé hand-fan painted with a scene depicting Calypso holding Ulysses in her island. ca, 1700-1720. Varnished. Image © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3486-calypso-holding-ulysses-in-her-island-fan-circa-1700-20.html
Hand-fan with the paper leaf painted with a scene of the goddess Aphrodite giving birth to the beautiful statue Galatea, made by the sculptor Pygmalion who fell in love with this work. Mother-of-pearl fan, the sticks and guards sculpted, carved and applied with golden foils and painted and varnished. ca. 1750. Image © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3489-galatea-and-pygmalion-fan-circa-1750.html

Hand-fans in shades of red. From the February email of Fans d’Eventail, Paris.



Checkerboard dislocation or magical trick fan in wood and silk ribbons. ca. 1900. From a patent registered in 1879 by Th. Heaulme-Fleury. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3461-ribbons-dislocation-magical-fan-cica-1880-90.html
Cockcade sliding fan with silk screen sliding with a small push button to fit into a wooden handle. ca. 1870. Patented model, maybe the one of Salomon-Isaac Meyer in 1870. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/fixed-fans/3476-the-indispensable-necessaire-fan-circa-1880.html
Dislocating or trick fan in wood and silk ribbons. ca. 1880-1890. From a patent registered in 1879 by Th. Heaulme-Fleury. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3460-ribbons-dislocation-magical-fan-cica-1880-90.html
Hand-fan with bells. Wood sticks and guards with the fabric leaf being embroidered with bells. ca. 1880-1890. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3474-fan-with-bells-circa-1880-90.html

Antique hand-fans. All of these from a current Sotheby’s auction catalogue. Please note that a few which were made in the 18th and 19th centuries have elephant ivory sticks and guards. To my mind that makes it all right to use here. If it bothers you please look at the other two.

Hand-fan with a painted vellum leaf depicting various scenes of agricultural labor, contained by broad decorative borders depicting flora, fauna and chinoiserie figures. Elephant ivory sticks and guards, the sticks finely pierced with foliate patterns and and creating silhouette scenes against the mother-of-pearl ground of an elegant group with a horse-drawn carriage. The pierced guards with a ground of colored foil. 1760-1770. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/an-ivory-and-painted-vellum-fan-1760-1770?locale=en

Hand-fan with the vellum leaf depicting a mythological scene, possibly Diana and Actaeon. Pierced horn sticks with stylized foliate patterns. The pierced guards with a central medallion of a vase of flowers surmounted by a ribbon and a plaque containing the number “662”. Early 19th c. French. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/a-horn-and-vellum-fan-french-early-19th-century?locale=en

Horn and silk hand-fan. Pierced and sequined silk leaves the horn sticks and mounts studded with silver. 19th c. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/a-horn-and-silk-fan-19th-century?locale=en
Hand-fan with a chicken-skin leaf and elephant ivory sticks and guards. The ivory sticks and guards pierced with floral motifs and a fine mesh ground enclosing scenes of musicians and painters, bound using a mother-of-pearl washer, the chicken-skin leaf depicting a group of chinoiserie figures within vignettes of fruit, flowers and insects. Mid 18th c. Probably French. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/an-ivory-fan-probably-french-mid-18th-century?locale=en
Lace and mother-of-pearl hand-fan. The sticks and guards in finely pierced mother-of-pearl and heightened with gold foil, the sticks including two engraved portrait medallions, the guards centrally featuring an ornate monogram studded with diamonds and a lady with a fan surmounted by a cherub. The leaf in Ponte-de-Gaze lade with a floral pattern. The box being marked Spaulding and Company/Jewelers and Silversmiths/36 Avenue de l’Opera/Paris. 1890-1900. Made in Paris, France by Spaulding and Company. Image © 2021 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/hotel-lambert-une-collection-princiere-volume-v-lecrin/a-lace-and-mother-of-pearl-fan-by-spaulding-1890?locale=en

Hand fans. So much prettier than the Ikea ones. All of these from Fan d’eventail of Paris.

Pair of beach themed advertising fans. Wood cockade fan with paper printed for Grands Vins du Cap Corse. Th other in wood with printed paper leaf, an advertisement for Casino de Biarritz. Early 20th c. Image ©  Fans d’eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3282-on-the-beach-two-advertising-fans-20th-century.html

Salerno, Pompeii, and Paestum Grand Tour Fan with a painted paper leaf. One side is the bay of Salerno and the other side is Paestum, Palazzo Genovese of Salerno and Pompeii. Mother of pearl sticks and guards. Image ©  Fans d’eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3289-salerno-pompeii-and-paestum-grand-tour-fan-early-20th.html

Pair of hand-fans with an early airplane motif. Painted paper with wood sticks and guards. One fan painted on paper with the other fan printed on paper and inscribed Institut profesionnel féminin. Early 20th c. Image ©  Fans d’eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3296-the-planes-early-20th-century-fans.html

More from Fan d’eventail of Paris. Taken from their July email.



Hand-fan with an Angkor theme. Painted paper leaf with a skin back and sticks and guards in black mother of pearl with the guard applied with a silver initial. Signed and dated H. Bethaut 1892 and Duvelleroy on the back. From the Michel Maignan Collection. Image © Fan d’eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/fans-by-painter-artist/3287-angkor-fan-by-berthaut-and-duvelleroy-1892.html

Hand-fan with a Cambodia motif. Painted fabric leaf with mother of pearl sticks and guards. Signed and dated FP 1901. Image © Fan d’eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3288-cambodia-fan-circa-1901.html

Hand-fan with an Italian landscape motif. Painted paper leaf with the back being painted skin. Bone and mother of pearl sticks and guards. ca. 1825-1835. Image © Fan d’eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3286-italian-landscape-fan-circa-1825-35.html

Feather fans and one with a lace fringe to make you sneeze. Fans d’Eventail, Paris.

Cloud on fan. Late 19th c. Tortoiseshell with marabout (marabou) feather. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/feather-fans/3105-cloud-on-fan-late-19th-century.html
Mother-of-pearl fan with large pink ostrich feather. ca. 1900-1920. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/feather-fans/3087-spectacular-ostrich-feather-fan-circa-1900-1920.html
“The Jockey Bears” fan. ca. 1900. Mother-of-pearl sticks and guards with a lace leaf and back silk lining. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3098-the-jockey-bears-fan-circa-1900-.html

Hand-fans to flirt the evening away. Fans d’Eventail, Paris.

Ivory  brisé  hand-fan painted and varnished with a Biblical scene of Eleazar refusing to eat pork. The guard applied with mother-of-pearl, engraved. Early 18th c. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3074-eleazar-refusing-to-eat-pork-early-18th-century-fan.html
Hand-fan called a bouquet holder that once closed forms a bouquet of flowers. Paper leaf printed and enhanced with gouache and bone sticks and guards. The guards with mirrors and bouquets in feather and fabric, with two paper hollows at the top of each guard to slip in fresh flowers. ca. 1855. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3075-fan-with-bouquet-circa-1855.html The website at the link has many photographs of it folded up into a bouquet holder holding real flowers.
Large hand-fan, the leaf in black gauze painted with angels fishing and embroidered with needle lace with flowers and foliage. White mother of pearl sticks and guards, engraved and applied with silver leaves. ca. 1890-1895. French. Signed “L. Boillat,” Lucie Boillat having been a French miniaturist painter. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3085-fishing-angels-fan-by-boillat-circa-1890-95.html

Hand-fans from Fans d’Eventail, Paris. All beautiful. Taken from their September email.



Bees and thistles fan. Fabric leaf painted with bees foraging on thistles and bone sticks and guards carved and painted with thistles. ca. 1900. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3056-bees-and-thistles-fan-circa-1900.html
Bird and grappes fan. Painted and embroidered gauze leaf and horn sticks and guards applied with colored mother-of-pearl. ca. 1900. Art Nouveau. French. Duvelleroy, maker. Signed “Duvelleroy” on the back. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3052-bird-and-grappes-duvelelroy-fan-circa-1900.html
Himalayan monal feather fan with tortoiseshell sticks and guards. Late 19th c. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/feather-fans/3055-himalayan-monal-late-19th-century.html

Hand-fans from Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Not your standard shape or material. All fun and perfect for however many sultry afternoons remain to summer.

Blue butterfly fan. Early 20th c. Art Nouveau. Wood with a painted fabric leaf. Image  © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via  https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3036-blue-butterfly-art-nouveau-fan.html


,  February 1924 “Cat” fixed synthetic fan. Éventail Bte SGDG, patented by René de Garam in February, 1924. Image  © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/fixed-fans/3031-cat-by-garam-fixed-fan-circa-1925-30.html
Crest and monograms fan in wood applied with some stickers in the style of arte povera. Late 19th c. Image  © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3028-crests-and-monograms-late-19th-century.html


“Paon” curiosity fan in wood and printed cardboard with advertising on the back for “A. Gambrinus Taverne de Bruxelles  Lille and Bière Lescornez.” ca. 1904. Patented SGDG by Léopold Verger in 1904. Image  © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3030-violets-curisosity-fan-circa-1904.html
“Violets” curiousity fan in wood and printed cardboard. Patented SGDG by Léopold Verger in 1904. Image  © Fan d’éventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3029-violets-curisosity-fan-circa-1904.html

Hand-fans with painted scenes. From Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Some may still be available for purchase.

Giant theatre fan with painted with a scene from Voltaire’s “Brutus.” ca. 1790. Printed and painted paper leaf. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3011-brutus-by-voltaire-giant-theater-fan-circa-1790.html
Love at the sound of the tambourine. A ivory and bone brisé fan pierced and painted like Vernis Martin and varnished. ca. 1690. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3002-love-at-the-sound-of-the-tambourine-fan-circa-1690.html
Tortoiseshell fan with a painted black gauze leaf decorated with the nymphs of the four seasons. ca. 1880-1890. Signed ” Andréas”. With its box from A. Weyl Paris. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2996-nymphs-of-the-four-seasons-fan-circa-1880-1890.html
Mother-of-pearl fan with a vellum leaf painted with roses. ca. 1880-1890. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3007-roses-fan-circa-1880-1890.html
Hand-fan with wooden sticks and guards and a printed and painted paper leaf depicting Heloise and Abelard, the cursed lovers. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3008-the-cursed-lovers-heloise-and-abeilard-fan-circa-1785.html
Ivory hand-fan with pierced and carved sticks and guards with a painted vellum leaf painted with “The Sincere and Faithful Love.” 1862. Signed “Hamon.” Jean-Louis Hamon (1821-1874) having been a French painter representative of the neo-Greek movement who exhibited several times at the Salon and at the 1855 and 1867 Universal Exhibitions. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3009-the-sincere-and-faithful-love-fan-by-hamon-1862.html