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

1920s hand fans from the website of Fans d’Eventail, Paris. Two that advertise something and the third a commemorative fan connected with a reception in 1922. Nicer than getting a free travel mug. All you get now.

Advertising fan for Bas Marny. Art Déco. Wooden sticks and a printed paper leaf that is numerated #134. Image © Fan d’éventails. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/2898-bas-marny-advertising-fan-art-deco-period.html
Commemorative fan for the reception of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers which happened on June 16, 1922. 1922. Wooden fan with a printed paper leaf. Image © Fan d’éventails. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/2897-institution-of-mechanical-engineers-souvenir-fan-1922.html


Advertising fan with Mistinguett for Cherry Regals. 1920s. Printed paper with wood sticks. by Charles Gesmar who lived from 1900 to 1928. Image © Fan d’éventails. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/advertising-fans/2899-mistinguett-and-cherry-fan-by-gesmar-circa-1920.html

Fan leaves that never did get turned into fans. From the website of Europeana which is a website with items from museums in the European Union.

Painted fan leaf with a landscape of mountains and a rising moon. Intended as a design for a fan. Silk and watercolor. 1850-1900. Dutch/Flemish. Maker not known. Collections of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Image in the public domain. via https://classic.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/90402/RP_T_1951_70.html?utm_source=new-website&utm_medium=button
Fan leaf made from Halas lace. 1910-1914. Austrian. Maker not known. Collections of the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna. Image © MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna. Fair use license. via https://classic.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/15514/T_10073_1093.html?q=fan+leaf#dcId=1599406343719&p=5
Lace fan leaf in the motif of two soldiers and a seven-headed monster. 1915. Lace. Anna Rucsinszki, designer. Staatliche Spitzenschule in Körmök Banya, manufacturer. Austrian. Maker not known. Collections of the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna. Image © MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna. Fair use license. via https://classic.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/15514/T_10073_1075.html?q=fan+leaf#dcId=1599406343719&p=8

Fans, each with a happy theme, from Fans d’Eventail of Paris. Taken from their new for September, 2020 collection. And no I do not know them but the fans in their monthly emails are beautiful.



“Childhood Memories” fan with a silk leaf painted by the French painter and illustrator Edmond Malassis (1874-1944). 1899. French. Silk leaf with bone sticks and guards carved and painted with iris. Signed, dated and dedicated:  “A la meilleure des tantes, le plus irrespectueux des neveux E. Malassis 1899.” Image © Fans d”Evantails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/art-nouveau-fans/2856-childhood-memories-fan-by-malassis-in-1899.html

“Gallant Dance and Music” fan with the paper leaf painted and signed by Lasellaz. Late 19th c. Painted paper leaf, and mother-of-pearl sticks and guards that are pierced, carved and applied with golden foils. Painted skin back. Image Image © Fans d”Evantails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2851-gallant-dance-and-music-fan-by-lasellaz-late-19th-century.html
“The Toilette” fan with a silk leaf painted and signed by French painter Gustave Noel (1823-1881 or 1895). ca., 1860-1865. Painted silk leaf with mother-of-pearl sticks and guards, delicately pierced, carved and applied with golden foils an burgau. Image © Fans d”Evantails, Paris. Fair use license. via https://www.fandeventails.fr/en/19th-century-fans/2857-the-toilet-fan-by-gustave-noel-circa-1860-65.html