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 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

Hand fans that were souvenirs at various world’s fairs. All more fun than the electric kind. Prettier, too.

World’s Fair of 1867, commemorative fan.
Wooden brisé fan, printed with view of the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1867. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/historic-fans/3163-world-s-fair-of-1867-commemorative-fan.html
Hand fan from the World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition/The White City, Chicago, Illinois. The fan having been presented at the World’s Fair in gift shops. ca. 1892. American. Finely detailed print on paper, attached to expanding wood elements, with brass loop handle. J. W. Green, maker. Image © 1998-2022 Ruby Lane, Inc. Fan itself in the public domain due to age. via https://www.rubylane.com/item/1876169-1214/Worldx92s-Fair-Columbian-Ex78position-1892-Fan
Two Saint Louis 1904 World’s Fair souvenir fans. Both with multicolored images on paper with elaborately painted wooden sticks. “A deed of the pen’ show across the top of the map showing “The Louisiana Purchase.:” 1904. American. Maker not known. Part of the Saint Louis estate of Patricia Villmer, founding member of the World’s Fair Society. Image © 2022 Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers. . Fair use license. via https://www.selkirkauctions.com/auction-lot/two-st.-louis-1904-world-s-fair-souvenir-fans_F4243BF832

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. 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. Fans d’Eventail of Paris.

Hand-fan painted with what may be a scene from the opera ballet “Ophelia.” ca. 1880-1890. Gauze and silk leaf with wooden sticks. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2992-ballet-to-ophelia-fan-circa-1880-90.html
En plein coeur hand-fan. ca. 1880-1895. Mother of pearl sticks and guards carved and applied with golden and silver foils. Pointe de Gaze cream colored needle lace leaf embroidered with two skin cartels painted and signed “G. Lasellaz.” Comes with its Duvelleroy fan box. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2989-en-plein-coeur-fan-by-lasellaz-circa-1880-95.html

Hand-fan with the leaf painted with a mythological scene depicting Hercules and Omphale. ca. 1730. Painted paper leaf with ivory sticks and guards, the guards applied with mother of pearl and painted under mica. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/2987-hercules-and-omphale-fan-circa-1730.html