The fan story
The traditional accessory of the ladies of past centuries was a little bit forgotten by the modern world and nowadays is used only as the souvenir or as the beautiful detail of the house design.
The Chinese fan has long and striking history. The most ancient fans discovered on the territory of this country refer to the epoch of 770-256 BC. First fans looked like the cut bronze inventions with the long handlers. Some fans were made of plumage with the wooden handle. At that time the fan was the sign of the richness and authority of the owner.
With the lapse of time fans got the round form and people started to make them of the thin bamboo plates. They were used by imperators that were relaxing under the fans and the slaves and servants were helping in work.
Despite the great variety of forms women always preferred the fans with the round form that was kept till nowadays. Many poems of the Ancient World mention the fan.
During the medieval times the fan was the obligatory accessory of the noble and respected woman. Sometimes it helped her during the hot weather; sometimes it was the way to cover the face. Nevertheless the fan's making was turned into the art as the real masterpieces were created by decorating the fans with precious stones, laces, etc. Fan was especially important in Spain as there are even traditional dances with the use of fans.