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 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

Feather hand-fans from the collections of the Museum of the City of New York.

Brisé feather fan of swirling down feathers. 1910-1929. Feathers with a mother of pearl monture. Archival ID#MNY64910. Collections of the Museum of the city of New York. Fair use license. via https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&AlbumChain=Highlights%2fFans%2f&PackageBrowsingMode=1&VBID=24UP1O5PFSDB&RW=142

Folding feather fan with clipped aqua blue ostrich feathers. Faux tortoise shell monture and textured gilt metal loop with a white metal pin. Paper hang tag stamped: Made in France. Intended to be used as a hand prop by debutante participating in the Junior League “Winter Ball”, held in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. Dated 1990-1999. Archival ID#MNY54970 . Collections of the Museum of the City of New York. Fair use license. via https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&AlbumChain=Highlights%2fFans%2f&PackageBrowsingMode=1&VBID=24UP1O5PFSDB&RW=1423&RH=

Fixed feather fan in turkey and marabou with two layers of turkey feathers, the rear layer light brown with brown and white banded tips and the front layer with iridescent band at tips. Brown and white marabou feathers at the base. Woven black and white straw handle. 1840-1849. Archival ID#MNY72614  Collections of the Museum of the City of New York. Fair use license. via https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&AlbumChain=Highlights%2fFans%2f&PackageBrowsingMode=1&VBID=24UP1O5PFSDB&RW=1423&RH=630

Bouquet folding fan, the paper leaf with overpainted chromolithograph scenes. The back with stylized figures in a landscape with a stream in the foreground and the front with an 18th century style figured scene. Perforated ivory monture with gilt inlay, a gilt framed mirror to the guard and dyed feather and silk bouquets applied to the guards. ca. 1850. Marks: Reverse mount initialed DAL ? marked brevete (patented). Archival ID#MNY80752. Collections of the Museum of the City of New York. Fair use license. via https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&AlbumChain=Highlights%2fFans%2f&PackageBrowsingMode=1&VBID=24UP1O5PFSDB&RW=1423&RH=


Fixed fan of pink Moluccan cockatoo feathers, the front with a single central ruby hummingbird ringed with iridescent whole beetles and white feather flowers and the back with a central stemmed floral and foliate cluster comprised of feathers. Ivory handle, pierced and carved in a scrolling leaf design. 1860-1869. Archival ID#MNY80754  Collections of the Museum of the City of New York. Fair use license. via https://collections.mcny.org/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&AlbumChain=Highlights%2fFans%2f&PackageBrowsingMode=1&VBID=24UP1O5PFSDB&RW=1423&RH=

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 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

Antique fans in chiffon and lace. Perfect to flirt with in the heat of summer.

Hand-fan with a silk chiffon and lace leaf that is embroidered with sequins. Wooden sticks and guards. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2993-chiffon-fan-late-19th-century.html
Large balloon hand fan. Tortoiseshell sticks and guards with a leaf made from needle and bobbin lace applied on black tulle with the lace in an iris and fuschia motif. Art Nouveau.. Image © Fans d’Eventail. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/2988-iris-and-fuchsias-art-nouveau-fan.html
Hand-fan with a silk chiffon leaf with lace appliqué and metal sequins. Incised and stained mother-of-pearl sticks and guards. 1900-1910. American. Maker not known. Image © 2021 Philadelphia Museum of Art. Fair use license. via https://www.philamuseum.org/collection/object/208541

18th century hand fans, each painted with a pretty scene. From the March offerings of Fans d’Eventail of Paris.

Hand-fan with a skin leaf painted with the biblical scene of the return of the prodigal son. Painted skin leaf with carved, pierced and engraved ivory sticks and guards with dancer motifs. 1700-1720. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/2966-the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-fan-circa-1700-1720.html
Brisé painted and varnished hand-fan, the leaf painted with a scene of a group having a picnic. Pierced ivory sticks and guards. Early 18th c. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/2964-the-snack-early-18th-century-fan.html

Hand-fan with the skin leaf mounted in the English style, painted with what could be episodes from the goddess Diana’s life, including a scene with Diana watching over Endymion’s sleep. Painted skin leaf with the back painted with flowers. Ivory sticks and guards, pierced, engraved and applied with gold leaf. 18th-19th c. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/18th-century-fans/2971-d.html

Hand-fans with painted scenes, one with horses and a dog. Twentieth century. All from the website of Fans d’Eventail, Paris.

Pastiche fan decorated with a blind man’s bluff scene. Painted skin leaf with ivory sticks and guards painted and varnished in the taste of the 18th century in the style of vernis Martin. ca. 1900. French. Lancret, maker. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2890-blind-man-s-buff-by-lancret-pastiche-fan-circa-1900.html
“Cnarming Moments” fan. Finely painted skin leaf with mother of pearl sticks and guards, carved and decorated with gold foils, burgau and green stones. ca. 1900. French. Jules Donzel, painter (1865-1927). Signed by the painter. Duvellroy, maker. Maker’s mark for Duvellroy on the reverse. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2891-charming-moments-fan-by-donzel-circa-1900.html

Fan with a silk leaf painted with a dog and horses with mother of pearl sticks and guards. ca. 1920. Maker not known. Image © Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/2889-dog-and-horses-fan-circa-1900.html