Miniature hand fans were created during the Nineteenth Century mostly for decorative purposes, however sometimes they were used as props at winter events when a fan wasn’t needed for practical reasons, but rather for social reasons. Miniature fans were also used by children. For this reason, they very often don’t survive in pristine condition. While English and French fan-makers were producing stunning full-sized fans, Italian craftsmen created some of the finest miniature fans of this period.
Take this miniature hand fan, for example. Signed by the artist, “Romano,” the fan depicts a pastoral scene of a courting couple. Behind them, the lady’s maid acts as chaperone while sheep frolic at the feet of the young lovers. The canvas leaf still retains its original vibrancy of color, trimmed with gold-tipped lace. The fan’s sticks are gilt and pierced celluloid, placing the creation of the fan around 1870. Judging by the case, I would say that the fan was mounted in the 1950’s. Originally the fan was mounted on ivory velvet, however, sometime during its existence the ivory backing was replaced with black. Traces of the original cream-colored velvet remain around the edges.
For a miniature fan to survive in such good condition, we can deduce that this fan was created for novelty or decorative purposes. By this period in history, the fan had become a symbol of a lady’s place in society. Where ancient fans were used to combat heat and shoo away pests, a Victorian lady employed a fan to communicate. A fan such as this one would have served as a reminder that though she didn’t have many liberties, a woman still had a certain control over her life.
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