Theatre and circus fans, the better to make your own limelight. All of these from Fan d’Eventails, Paris.

Atala and Chactas fan. Bone fan with the skin leaf painted with three cartels, one of which depicts the Indian couple Atala and Chactas crossing the Meschacebé River on a raft, as told in the novel Atala, ou Les Amours de deux sauvages dans le désert by French writer François-René de Chateaubriand (published in 1801). The second cartel could represent Othello and Desdemona in Venice, based on Shakespeare‘s tragedy Othello or the Moor of Venice, first performed in 1604. ca. 1840. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3803-1-atala.html

Large brisé wooden fan painted with a training scene of a circus act with a dog and monkey trainer. ca. 1880-1900. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3797-circus-rehearsal-fan-circa-1880-1900.html

Fan, the black silk leaf painted with a representation of a circus act with a trained monkey with a tortoiseshell or imitation mount. ca. 1880. Signed illegible. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3793-the-circus-show-fan-circa-1880.html

Hand-fans for the old year ending and the new year about to begin, taken from the latest email from Fans d’Eventail, Paris.

Hand-fan with tinted mother-of-pearl sticks and guards, the black gauze leaf painted with Charon sailing the river Styx with a young dead woman. Love weeps at the stern of the boat, while in despair, the bridegroom pleads with the ferryman of death and tries to hold him back. Late 19th c. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3756-holding-back-death-late-19th-century-fan.html

Advertising fan for the London boutique of Simpson and Company. Wooden sticks and guards, the gilt-printed paper leaf showing the various items they offered, mostly clocks, candlesticks, inkwells, and boxes. ca. 1860-1880. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3757-simpson-co-clocks-advertising-fan-circa-1860-80.html

Hand-fan with mother-of-pearl sticks and guards, richly decorated and applied with gold leaf, the paper leaf chromolithographed and enhanced with gouache of a cheerful harvest scene. ca. 1850-1860. maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3758-summer-harvest-time-fan-circa-1850-60.html

Hand-fan with a painted skin leaf that depicts the four seasons and their related activities: the grape harvest in autumn, the wheat harvest in summer, work in the garden and the blossoming of flowers in spring, and the joys of skating in winter.
The reverse also evokes the seasons, with grapes, nature’s renewal and fire. Richly sticks and guards, delicately pierced and engraved with the same subjects. The dealer’s website does not state what material the sticks and guards are made from, but mid 18th century so I would think animal ivory or bone. ca. 1750-1760. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3744-the-four-seasons-fan-circa-1750-60.html

Love Clock hand-fan. Painted silk leaf embroidered with sequins and silver chains, the sticks and guards painted and applied with gold and silver leaves. They look to be bone or animal ivory, too. ca. 1780. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3746-the-love-clock-fan-circa-1780.html

Urns fan with bone sticks and guards, the paper leaf engraved with three closed urns (symbols of the deceased’s last home) in blue monochrome, embroidered with steel sequins and painted borders. ca. 1790-1800. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3745-urns-fan-circa-1790-1800.html

Hand-fan, the paper leaf painted with a wheat harvest time scene. Bone sticks and guards. Early 2oth c. Signed P. Garcia Rosa. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3747-wheat-harvest-time-early-20th-century-fan.html

Hand-fans to waft spring or fall in, depending on where you are. All of these taken from the September email from Fan d’Eventails, Paris, France. Most of these were made for children, dolls and are otherwise miniature.

Bone brisé doll fan with an interlaced pink ribbon. ca. 1900. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3649-little-gallantry-miniature-fan-or-doll-s-fan-late-19thearly-20th-century.html

Large wooden brisé hand fan. On the reverse of each blade, metal supports are studded to form a sort of domino cabriolet, featuring chromolithographed papers depicting children and flowers. Late 19th c. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3631-children-and-flowers-giant-fan-early-20th.html

Hand-fan made for a child, the silk leaf painted and embroidered in the motif of a swan. Horn sticks and guards. ca. 1900. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3632-elegante-au-cygne-eventail-d-enfant-vers-1900.html

Small brisé hand-fan made for a child with the leaf painted and applied with engraving. Bone sticks and guards. ca. 1900. Henry À la Pensée, maker. Signed on the reverse by Henry À la Pensée, a Paris dealer on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3645-for-a-child-fan-from-henry-a-la-pensee-circa-1900.html

Miniature brisé hand fan, the leaf painted and varnished with the motif of a fountain and windmill. Bone sticks and guards. Late 19th-early 20th c. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3647-little-gallantry-miniature-fan-or-doll-s-fan-late-19thearly-20th-century.html

Children’s hand-fan, the satin leaf printed with children’s games. Wooden sticks with the guards being made of gutta percha. Late 19th c. Lauronce, maker. Signed by Lauronce. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3628-gutta-percha-and-childrens-fan-by-lauronce-late-19th-century.html

Hand-fan with wooden sticks and guards, the paper leaf printed with little flowers. ca. 1900. Lachelin, maker. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3644-little-flowers-by-lachelin-fan-circa-1900.html

Miniature hand-fan in pierced and painted bone with an interlaced ribbon. 19th c. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3650-little-gallantry-miniature-fan-or-doll-s-fan-late-19thearly-20th-century.html

The children of the Bon Marché palmette paper fan with a printed leaf and an interlaced ribbon. Belle Epoque. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/3652-the-children-of-the-bon-marche-belle-epoque-fan.html

Flower children hand-fan with a painted and printed silk leaf. Wooden sticks and guards. ca. 1890. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3643-the-flower-children-fan-circa-1890.html

Miniature brisé bone hand-fan, painted in the style of Wedgwood earthenware. ca. 1900. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3630-little-wedgwood-miniature-fan-circa-1900.html

Painted wood brisé doll hand-fan. ca. 1900. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/novelty-hands-fans/3648-little-gallantry-miniature-fan-or-doll-s-fan-late-19thearly-20th-century.html

Hand-fans with flowers for August. Who needs an air conditioner if you can make your own breeze?

Iris hand-fan in wood with a painted fabric leaf. 1900-1905. Tutin, maker. Signed Tutin. Image © Fan d’Eventails Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3605-iris-by-tutin-fan-circa-1900-1905.html

Iris flower hand-fan, the polylobed leaf applied with three lace irises and embroidered with sequins. Tortoiseshell sticks and guards inlaid with silver sequins and the top of the guards being serpentine. ca. 1900-1910. French. Duvelleroy, maker. Signed Duvelleroy on the reverse. Image © Fan d’Eventails Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3603-iris-flowers-duvelleroy-fan-circa-1900-1910.html

Hand-fan with a painted silk and gauze leaf, richly embroidered with colored sequins depicting poppy flowers. Pierced horn sticks and guards, engraved and applied with tinted burgau mother-of-pearl with a poppy motif. Art Nouveau. Image © Fan d’Eventails Paris. Fair use license. https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3606-poppies-art-nouveau-fan.html

Hand-fans decorated up with animals. Why not. Taken from the July email of Fan d’Eventails, Paris.

Hand-fan with a mother-of-pearl frame, the lace and skin leaf painted with flowers foraged by bumblebees and butterflies. ca, 1890. French. Duvelleroy, maker. Signed Daillard et Duvelleroy. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3580-bumblebees-and-butterflies-by-daillard-duvelleroy-fan-circa-1890.html

Mother-of-pearl fan, the silk and lace leaf painted with a Burmese ceremony involving an elephant and cows. ca. 1900. No further information available. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3587-elephant-and-sacred-cows.html

Wooden fan, the leather leaf painted with a dog motif. ca. 1880-1900. Austrian. Rodeck, Wein maker. Stamped on the back Gebr. Rodeck Wien. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3585-dogs-fan-by-rodeck-wien-circa-1880-1900.html

Tortoiseshell hand fan, the gauze leaf painted with a pair of kingfishers. ca. 1890. Made by Gaston and signed Gaston D. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3581-les-martin-pecheurs-eventail-de-gaston-vers-1890.html

Fan with white mother-of-pearl sticks and guards and a double skin leaf painted with monkeys by Octave Join-Lambert, painter and archaeologist (1870-1956). 1890. French. Signed and dated O. Join Lambert 1890. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3577-monkeys-fan-by-octave-join-lambert-1890.html

Paper fan leaf in watercolor of a fox terrier chasing a mouse. ca. 1900. Signed Ct. H. Blain or perhaps Cain for George Cain. Image © Fan d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/fan-leafs/3579-the-ratter-dog-fan-leaf-circa-1900.html

Make your own breeze on a hot day. Fans for June from Fan d’Éventails. Many of these celebrating royal and imperial people but not all. All fun.

Bal des mines hand-fan, the paper leaf printed with a design showing a group of miners throwing their picks and lamps to scare off Turkish and Russian soldiers. Wooden sticks and guards. 1913. Stamped Bail Cotillon Paris on the back. Image © Fan d’Éventails Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/historic-fans/3566-bal-des-mines-fan-1913.html

Brienne’s disgrace and Necker’s praise revolutionary fan. Bone sticks and guards with the paper leaf printed in intaglio and enhanced with gouache, announcing the dismissal of Brienne and the recall of Necker by King Louis XVI in 1788, to redress public finances. There is a song to the tune of Vaudeville des deux morts on the back. ca. 1788. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Éventails Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/historic-fans/3554-brienne-s-disgrace-and-necker-s-praise-revolutionnary-fan-circa-1788.html

Bone fan, with fabric windows painted Hand-fan in bone with fabric windows painted with fanciful coats of arms. Late 19th c. Image © Fan d’Éventails Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3570-fanciful-coat-of-arms-late-19th-century.html

Jacobitism hand-fan, the chromolithographed paper leaf printed with a romantic evocation of the Jacobite rising of 1745, led by Jacobite pretender Charles Edward Stuart (“Bonnie Prince Charlie”). Made ca. 1860 with the sticks and guards pierced, printed and varnished in the 18th century style. Image © Fan d’Éventails Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3539-idees.html

Napoleon and Marie-Louise fan leaf. Engraved paper fan leaf with gouache, depicting the union of the imperial couple, Napoleon and Marie-Louise. ca. 1810. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Éventails Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/historic-fans/3555-napoleon-and-marie-louise-fan-leaf-circa-1810.html

Hand-fan, the skin leaf painted with the marriage of Leopold of Hapsburg-Lorrraine (1747-1792), future Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and the Infanta of Spain, Maria-Luisa de Bourbon (1745-1792), daughter of Charles III of Spain and Marie-Amélie de Saxe, celebrated in Innsbruck on August 5, 1765. ca. 1765. Pierced, painted and varnished sticks and guards. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Éventails Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/3556-the-wedding-of-leopold-ii-of-austria-and-marie-louise-of-spain-fan-circa-1765.html

Hand-fans in fun colors just in time for late spring and early summer. From Fan d’Eventail, Paris.

A small brisé fan in bakelite evoking the Futurism movement by its composition and its colors. ca. 1920-1930. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3530-futurism-fan-circa-1920-30.html

Fan with a wallpaper leaf in the taste of the Symbolists. 20th c. Framed and under glass. Image © Fan d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/fan-leafs/3535-symbolist-hill-fan-leaf-xxth-century.html

Circus fan with a paper leaf painted with a clown and a little monkey. Wooden sticks and guards, the throat partially painted, the master guard applied with a blue tinted mother-of-pearl. 20th c. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3520-the-colors-of-the-circus-20th-century-fan.html

Small hand-fan, the leaf in fuchsia pink fabric painted with an elegant couple ready to dance, their heads in painted Bakelite with Galalith sticks and guards in imitation of tortoiseshell. Monogrammed on the bottom left. ca. 1920s-1930s. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/3529-the-marquis-at-the-party-art-deco-fan.html

Small “Sultane” hand-fan, the blue silk leaf applied with a white lace border. “Sultane” sticks and guards made of engraved and grilled bone. ca. 1900. Maker not known. Image © Fan d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/3534-sultane-blue-fan-circa-1870-1900.html

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

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