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Dear Amparo,
I dedicate this article about fans, those elegant little wonders that combat the heat and which, as you know, fascinate me, to you and your readers.

The fan is perhaps one of the fashion accessories that best combines elegance, artistry and pragmatism. The fan has been part of human history since ancient times. Even in Egyptian civilisation, fans were used by both the upper classes and ordinary citizens.
In the Middle Ages, the fan even became part of the Catholic mass.
All these fans consisted of a screen attached to a handle. It was not until the 14th century that the folding fan, as we know it today, arrived in Europe. It arrived via trade routes from Asia, together with jewellery, luxurious silk and exotic spices.

Handle fan. Pheasant
Year: 1880
Origin: Spain
MUPA (Fan Museum, Aldaia-Valencia, Spain)
Lender: Vicente Ferrandis Mas

The European nobility began incorporating fans into their clothing, not only to alleviate the heat, but also as a fashion accessory. For example, there were winter fans made of lace fabrics that served more to adorn the garment than to provide air to the body.

Wooden and lace hand fan
Period: Early 21st century
Handfächer Canela lance hand fan

The fan undoubtedly enjoyed its heyday in 17th-century France under Louis XIV, the Sun King. There, it became an indispensable social accessory and a symbol of coquetry.

While fans were carried by both women and men in Asia, in Europe they were more commonly found in the hands of women. The fan was to a lady what the sword was to a gentleman, and even today it is predominantly women who use fans. The actual production of men’s fans accounts for only 1% of total fan production.

Lady with Fan.
Queen María de las Mercedes
Painting. Museum of History of Madrid.
Year: 1878
Painter: Eduardo Balaca y Canseco

Man with sword.
Louis XIV ‘Le Roi Soleil’ from France

Oil on canvas. 

Louvre Museum, Paris
Year: 1701

Painter: Hyacinthe Rigaud

There was a significant fan industry in England and the Netherlands. In Italy and France, on the other hand, fans were produced in great splendour. Fans were also made in Switzerland and Germany. Particularly noteworthy are the ornate ivory works from Erbach. Some of them can be seen in the museum in Erbach.
German Ivory Museum

Brisé fan made of ivory,
‘The Pride of Erbach’

Year: approx. 1875
Origin: Erbach (Germany)

MUPA (Aldaia Palmito Museum)

Lender: Abanicos Blay Villa

Spain also had a large fan industry. However, the pieces produced were not of such high quality as those in neighbouring countries. The Spanish soon learned from their French neighbours, who opened factories on Spanish territory and employed Spanish workers. Due to the climatic conditions, there was a high demand for fans in Spain, and by establishing their factories there, French hand fan manufacturers saved on the high customs duties they would have had to pay when importing their products into the country.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a royal fan factory was established in Valencia (Spain). This factory remained in operation until the middle of the 20th century. Numerous fans were manufactured there and exported all over the world.
At the beginning of the 20th century, however, most European fan manufacturers closed down, causing the European fan industry to concentrate mainly in Spain, particularly Valencia. This industry has survived to this day.

The production of fans is a team effort, involving up to 12 people depending on the complexity of the model.
You can find an article in German about fan makers on my on my website in my blog:
In the old factories of Valencia, the various steps involved in making fans were divided between men and women. The men were responsible for making the ribs, doing the fretwork and decorating the fans. The women mainly focused on covering the fans. Nowadays, the work is carried out regardless of gender.

The profession of fan maker is currently threatened with extinction, there are only four factories left that manufacture fan ribs, and the number of fan painters is declining. There is only one factory left that manufactures fans from bone and mother-of-pearl. In a few years, anyone who owns one of their fans will have a historical specimen.

Brisé fan made of rosewood, decorated with engravings and mother-of-pearl inlays

Period: designed in 2012

Origin: Aldaia -Valencia (Spain)

handfaechercanela.com/brisé

Both fan manufacturers and local institutions are working to keep the trade alive through promotional campaigns and activities. Teaching the craft to new generations is an important project.

The work of some of my fan makers can be seen in this short video. I admire their work and it is an honour for me to be able to bring the art and tradition of Spanish fans to an audience outside Spain:
The work of the fan makers

If you travel to Valencia, I recommend visiting the Fan Museum (MUPA = Museo del Palmito) in Aldaya, a small town a few kilometres from the city. This is where most fan craftsmen live and work today. At the MUPA museum, you can see not only a large collection of fans, but also the old machines that were used in their manufacture. The history of the Valencian fan is well illustrated with texts and photos in Spanish and English. Admission is free.

Dear Amparo,
on behalf of my fan makers, MUPA and myself, we would like to thank you for allowing us to use your space to introduce you to the fan culture of our home country, Spain.
In my online shop and at my stall at Berlin markets during the summer months, you can find fans made in Spain under the brand name ‘aea Abanico Español’, the only certificate that guarantees 100% quality fans made in Spain.
If you would like to know more about Spanish hand fans, you can read more on my german blog handfaechercanela.com/magazin.
There you will find further information and anecdotes about this ancient, practical and often unknown accessory, the Spanish hand fan.

I look forward to your visit

Esther Ramos