Victorian Mourning Fans
Fans have been almost a necessity since
the beginning of time. To move stale air, cool the skin, hide away
from the sun, and so much more. They have come in all sizes from very
large ones on long sticks to cool rooms, to small hand sized ones
that fit in a pocket. They have been made all over the world, and
from just about every material. During the Georgian and Victorian Era
there was even a language of fans, and a code of conduct. With the
rules and codes of conduct for mourning, even fans were included.
Solid black for deep mourning covered in paper or silk, then
Chantilly Lace over cream, lilac, or white. The blades were made of
wood, ebony, ivory, mother of pearl, and more. Starting as plain as
possible, then as mourning progressed decoration became more ornate.
Many folding fans were imported from the Orient, or Venice. Today
there are still many Victorian hand fans available on the market,
though many are in need of restoration and repair. Is it time to add
to your collection?
Images from Ebay
No comments:
Post a Comment