Hand Fans

2 sided hand painted Brise Fan made of very thin pieces of natural wood with a large black bird in flight on one side and white, orchid and yellow flowers w/green leaves in the center on the reverse side. Varnished wood guards, ribs and guards carved in a wavy pattern along the bottom edges, increasing in width and at the top are rounded. 1/4” of purple ribbon is woven through each rib connecting them along the top.

Black feather brise fan, feathers get larger as they come to the center and then curve down along the top creating a dome shape. Fan decorated in floral motif with three hand painted birds. Sticks and guards in walnut color with a glossy finish. Light green ribbon woven through the sticks to keep them rigid, black tassel.

Black satin and lace fan with a scalloped edge, spray of pink and white stemmed flowers and sprinkle of tiny silver sequins in shape of stars and circle. Pink faux mother of pearl sticks and guards.

Leafs made of matched pieces of overlapping paper attached to each stick. Made in Japan. 30 3” rectangular pieces of paper painted with a blue butterfly along the top, pink rose in the center and a spray of lilac flowers along the bottom. Black wood sticks and guards carved in a series of ovals with floral design. The top of each stick has 15 of the center sticks have an overlay of tiny wood sections that are carved to create a boat, with a man and woman standing on each side wearing kimonos. Boat and figures in blue, gray and black.

Chinese Brise Fan, solid ox bone, intricately carved w/the center 8 ribs representing the Immortals. The other ribs feature bamboo, cherry blossoms and trees. Each stick has the Greek key pattern along the top. The guards are carved with birds and flowers. Bought in China by the collector in 1992.

Cream fan with a blue gnome at the water’s edge watching as a small wood boat with a huge red rose floats out. Leaf looks hand painted. Wood sticks and guards have an orate design in relief with gold overlay. 13” long w/24” expansion.

Fabric Fan with 2 women and a man in a boat. Floral background and clothing in muted shades of brown and burgundy. Clothing, reminiscent of the 18th century. The gentleman’s jacket is superimposed with lace trim and tiny gold chains. The 3 figures have hair made of tightly knotted white and gray yarn. Burgundy-red fabric on the back side. Wood sticks and guards painted black, top of guards have a 3” decorative brass plate. A chain with a ring is attached. 14” long w/26” expansion.

Fan leaf cream color silk w/hand painted picture of 2 yellow butterflies, a pink rose and gray leaves. Tips of leaf have 2-1/2” of white feathers. Sticks and guards probably bone. 2010.56.2a.b 2 Fixed Feather Fans non European/American, post WWII. a. Fan of hand-woven palm, in teal, cream and purple with 4 pieces of paper thin tortoise fan, trimmed in small white feathers. Polynesian. In LaRee Johnson Bruton book Ladies’ Vintage Accessories, p. 87, is a picture of this style fan with the notation, “...a gift to my Dad from the Polynesian people in the 1950s when he was flying in the Marshall Islands.” DATE: 1950s. b. Fan with husk handle says, “Iquitos,” made of white, gray and brown feathers with floral motif in red, violet and orange feathers.

Fixed feather fan 9-1/2” leaf with 5” handle. White feathers with splashes of rose dye, in the center is a 4” black and yellow hummingbird flattened and attached. Back of fan has border of the white feathers with brown and white feathers in the center. Handle could be birch wood, is embroidered with multi-colored flowers.

Fixed Feather Fan non European/American, post WWII. Fan of hand-woven palm, in teal, cream and purple with 4 pieces of paper thin tortoise fan, trimmed in small white feathers. Polynesian. In LaRee Johnson Bruton book Ladies’ Vintage Accessories, p. 87, is a picture of this style fan with the notation, “...a gift to my Dad from the Polynesian people in the 1950s when he was flying in the Marshall Islands.” DATE: 1950s.

French Mask Fan, pale blue leaf w/a lady’s face hand-painted in the center. She is wearing a large black mask with cut out eyes. There are tiny iridescent sequins around the edge of the mask and eye openings. Sticks and guards made of a plastic material are ornately carved with gold overlay.

Hand Fans DAVE TO REWORK CONTENT OF OVERVIEW – The Language of Fans The fan placed near the heart:  “You have won my love.” Resting the fan on the heart.  “My love for you is breaking my heart.” A closed fan touched to the right eye:  “When may I be allowed to see you?” Letting the fan rest on the right cheek:  “Yes.” Letting the fan rest on the left cheek:  “No.” Fan held over left ear:  “I wish to get rid of you.” Covering the left ear with an open fan:  “Do not betray our secret.” Fan opened wide:  “Wait for me.” Touching the finger to the tip of the fan:  “I wish to speak with you.” Half-opened fan pressed to the lips:  “You may kiss me.” Putting the fan handle to the lips:  “Kiss me.” Resting the fan on her lips:  “I don’t trust you.” Opening and closing the fan rapidly:  “You are cruel” Quickly and impetuously closing the fan:  “I’m jealous.” Drawing the fan through the hand:  “I hate you!” Fanning slowly:  “I am married.” Fanning quickly.  “I am engaged.” Hands clasped together holding an open fan:  “Forgive me.” Hiding the eyes behind an open fan:  “I love you.” Drawing the fan across the cheek:  “I love you.” Hitting her hand’s palm:  “Love me.” Hitting any object:  “I’m impatient.” Dropping the fan:  “We will be friends.” Dropping the fan:  “I belong to you.” Half-opening the fan over the face:  “We are being watched.” Twirling the fan in the left hand:  “We are being watched.” Twirling the fan in the right hand:  “I love another.” Passing the fan from hand to hand:  “I see that you are looking at another woman.” donnamacmeans.com/the-secret-language-of-fans/ Description do not include attached buttons, rings and chains. Because it can be difficult to distinguish ivory from bone, where needed the word “bone” is used.

Large feather fan with, a small rectangular center section without feathers. In place of feathers is a painted scene. White feathers with bone carved sticks and guards and cream paper leaf In the center is a hand embroidered scene of a young woman with a large red rose on each side. Back of fan in cream fabric, stiffened satin.

Leafs made of matched pieces of overlapping paper attached to each stick. Made in Japan. 23 Paper Butterflies in shades of blue, green, violet and rose w/gold thread antennae and a 4” wing span. Lacquered wood sticks and guards w/floral design. Corded string attached to ring with a tassel on the other end.

Paper Leaf Fan, lithographic painting in shades of brown and cream in a floral motif with a pastoral scene in center of leaf, man courting a young woman. Touches of blue, gold and tiny silver discs. Ribs carved in 3 distinct ornate patterns. The bottom is natural wood with green leaves, center section pierced wood in dark green and silver with small silver discs glued to each stick, and on the top section each rib has a iridescent green overlay made by mixing green pigment with reflective mica.

Red ostrich feather brise fan, with feathers curving down over the sticks and guards. The only visible sticks are at the bottom center which has a painted scene. A woman is being courted by a young man playing a guitar like instrument. Colors are in shades of deep green, blue and brown. Sticks appear to be bone. Unusually wide 32” expansion + 15” length.

2 Fans, each with a bouquet of flowers and hand painted sticks with a high gloss finish. Finish could be lacquer or varnish. a. Red fabric leaf with red and pale yellow sticks painted in a bouquet of red and yellow roses. Accented with black and white ribbon trim. b. Beige Fabric leaf and pale yellow sticks and guards. A bouquet of painted red roses and pink flowers extend from the sticks onto the leaf. Green sponged leaves.

Two small 7-1/2” medium brown fabric fans with intricately carved wood sticks in an open work design. Sticks match the fabric color. Civil War period, 1860 to 1880s. a. 12 carved wood sticks along the bottom third have an open work design. The sticks then extend up to the top of the fan in a different open work pattern with the fabric glued to the back of the sticks showing through. Brass rivet loops. b. Brise fan with 13 fabric pieces in shape resembling feathers attached to the carved wood sticks. The carved wood guard has an etched leaf design.

White lace leaf sprinkled with tiny silver sequins, sequins also toj create a frame in the center of the fan. Inside of the frame is a hand painted pastoral scene of a man courting a woman, clothing in browns, blues and green, style reminiscent of 1800s. The bottom third of the sticks and the guards are faux mother of pearl with an ornate carved flower motif and gold overlay. Fan signed, J. Bellver. 2010.55.26 Fabric fan, leaf a country scene, trees in shades of green and brown w/large bright red and white flowers in the foreground. In the background is a house with 6 people and a man along the path with his horse and wagon. Made of twill like fabric w/stiff black fabric on back side. Wood sticks and guards stained black.14” long.

Wood Fan box, 13” long, 3 to 4-1/2” at its widest and 2” deep. Top and sides of boxes have hand painted flowers in shades of blue with gold trim. The inside of the box, bottom and borders are painted black. Box has a high gloss finish, could be varnish or lacquer.