Historically, it was Catherine de' Medici who introduced the hand fan to France. She regarded this accessory as an object of power as well as an accessory of refinement and luxury. Henri III also supported the promotion of the fan in the country. The same was true of Marie de' Medici when she married Henri IV. The use of the fan in France therefore dates back to the 16th century, but what about its manufacture?
The different makers of the hand fan
At first, fan making in France was carried out by a number of different trades. It was not reserved solely for fan makers. It also required the involvement of tabletiers (craftsmen working in wood, ivory and mother-of-pearl) and other artisans such as painters and engravers.
Given the complexity of the fan's structure, its making also called on the services of gilders, glovers, pleaters and perfumers. In fact, each of them had their own role, and they all did their utmost to turn their creations into true works of art.
Around the middle of the 18th century, France began to focus on the factory production of fans. Martin Petit invented a special mould that made it easy to pleat fabrics, and therefore to produce them in large quantities. A little later, the country also embarked on the mass production of printed fans. This led to the development of the fan market in many French towns and cities.
Fan specialists today
Even today, there are very few fan makers in France. The country has around ten professionals specialising in fan production. On the other hand, other trades can be found that carry out the fan maker's work, particularly the assembly of leaves and sticks.
The slight concern is that people fear for the future of the fan in France. It's true that this accessory has lost none of its value and is far from old-fashioned. Its use remains steady but is geared towards more ostentatious practices. Most people have lost the habit of carrying a fan or cooling themselves with one. Nevertheless, the fan is making a comeback for its practicality, particularly in the face of the intense heat we are now experiencing.
We mustn't forget that the hand fan is not just a way of keeping cool. It can perfectly well play other roles, such as a fashion accessory or a dance accessory. Indeed, today's fan makers are not short of creativity and imagination when it comes to producing innovative designs. They keep bringing out new models to offer variety and meet the needs of today's consumers.
Discover our hand fan collections
