Skip to content

Feeling Fan-cy

By Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections
August 19, 2025

From late 19th to the early 20th century, fans embellished with sequins, feathers, painted scenes, and carvings were a popular way for elegant ladies to keep cool. Within MCHS collection are a wide array to enjoy. 

 

Lustrous mother of pearl was a popular material for the handles of fans.

 

Many fans, like this one, were made of satin that also shimmered.

 

Other were edged with lace.
Although paper was also very common and highly decorated.

 

Most from MCHS’s collection are painted, adding visual interest as well as color to an otherwise black or white fan.

 

 

This very fragile fan of blue ostrich feathers is both one of MCHS’s largest and most dramatic.

 

 

Sometimes, in addition to the fan being painted, the handles were adorned as well.

 

The decoration on the handles could even get very extravagant.

 

Stylish restaurants, like the world-famous Delmonico’s also offered fans.

 

Intricately decorated on both sides, this fan features both the Casino du Chateau des Beaux-Arts in Huntington, Long Island and the Café des Beaux-Arts in NYC.

 

Loading...