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    Hand fans - origin, use and types

    The hand fan enjoys great popularity today as well as back then. For some, it serves as a pretty decoration, while others use it quite classically for a fresh breeze on the face.

    If you would like to buy a fan in the future, we have provided some useful information for you in this article on the origin, use and different types of hand fans.

    Hand fans - where do they find their origin?

    Portuguese sailors first discovered the creatively handcrafted hand fans around the year 1543 during a tour to Japan. In Japan, the cult really broke out in the 16th century. Hand fans have been around for a much longer time. Excavations have shown that there were first hand fans in the world as early as the 11th century BC.

    In those days, relatives and friends placed the hand fans in the graves of the dead.

    In the course of time, Asians recognised the usefulness of a fan and have since used them to protect themselves from the sun's rays or to wave cold air in their direction.

    In the 16th century, new trade routes increasingly developed much to the delight of hand fans. The beautifully decorated specimens thus found their way from the eastern part of the world over to the European population. Since the development of these trade routes, hand fans have become a permanent fixture in Europe, serving people for decorative purposes or to cool off on hot days.

    With increasing technology, the modern fan increasingly replaced the fan.

    Hand fans - what are their uses today?

    Fans are used by some for decorative purposes in their own homes or as a nice gift for friends and family.

    But fans offer an excellent alternative to modern hand fans. Hand fans do not need electricity and can be used at any time. In the sauna sector, they are also used as so-called sauna fans.

    Even the marketing and advertising world has discovered the hand fan and uses it in exotic or colourful posters.

    Before you buy a fan - here are the different materials

    The material of the fan is distinguished between the frame and the covering (also called the leaf).

    In the case of the hand fan, the poles are made of the following three materials:

    • wood
    • bamboo
    • plastic

    For the covering, the production uses these five materials:

    • Wood
    • Paper
    • Plastic
    • Lace
    • Silk

    To give the hand fan a noble design, they are printed, embroidered or embellished with a so-called jacquard weave.

    A pretty fan deserves to be showcased. The best way to achieve this is to complement it with accessories that have a similar style. Bags or - if you want to be more discreet - bracelets are particularly suitable.

    The structure

    The structure of a hand fan is divided into three different areas, which we will discuss in more detail in a moment.

    Below are the individual components of a hand fan and their description.

    Fan blade: The so-called fan blade is the visible part of a hand fan. Depending on your preferences, it can be decorated with different motifs. The fan blade is made of one of the following materials: Silk, leather, paper, parchment or swan skin.

    Sticks: The sticks are the core or framework of a hand fan, which is mounted on the aforementioned fan blade. The framework has two different thicknesses.

    Mandrel: Before you buy a fan, you should also know what the mandrel is. It is the connecting piece between the individual poles, usually made of metal. Rock crystals or cut glass stones provide a more beautiful decoration.

    When using a hand fan, the rods move apart and at the same time they form the connecting piece of a fan. With the help of the so-called thorns, the rods can be easily connected.

    Buying fans - what are the costs?

    The price differences for such an item are enormous. This is due to the different materials used in production.

    There are already inexpensive variations for the small euro. However, there are high-priced items where there are hardly any upper limits.

    You can find a normal folding fan for as little as 2 euros, while an expensive designer piece can cost up to several thousand euros.

    The following is a small overview of different fans and their prices.

    Compartments in the lower price range:
    Folding fans (From 2 Euro)
    Brise fan (From 3 Euro)
    Leaf fans (from 4 Euro)
    Feather fans (From 5 Euro)

    In the next listing, high-priced specimens:
    Feather fans with artificial feathers (100 euros)
    Feather fans with real feathers (60 to 600 euros)

    The different subjects

    As you can already see, there are different types of hand fans.

    The different shapes have evolved over time to suit the preferences of society. The most popular types have long been the folding and feather fans.

    When buying fans, you should know that a basic distinction is made between the following four types:

    • Folding fans
    • Feather fans
    • Leaf fans
    • Brise Fan

    The hand fans listed above differ in shape and material, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Which variant you should choose depends on what you value in a fan.

    It is clear that fans also cut an extravagant figure in photos. They are ideal as decoration in a stylish picture frame.

    The right fanning!

    You want to buy a fan but wonder how to use it? Waving it back and forth creates a fresh breeze that cools the face.