|
 Japan, three
thousand years ago: hot summer time, the sun is burning unmercifully, no hint
for wind... such a torrid heat in the park of the Emperor Palace that it's hard
to breathe. All got stiff in drowsy state, and only the cool fountain water
tries to slightly cheer up Von Vank, a young Empress. And the scene is quite
ordinary. On refreshing, Von Vank fans herself with a big green leave. A smile
of relief on her face appeared and she herself enjoyed her idea. The idea was small
in size but brilliant; yet, it was fated to go a long way in the history of
customs and traditions. Thus, a fan was invented in accordance with the
Japanese legend, at least.
And the
origin of the fan has not defined yet. Both Chinese and the Indians affirm that
they started using fans long before it was made by the Japanese. And the only
thing we are aware for certain is that the fan made his brilliant career from
the date it is invented. It is quickly metamorphosed from the leaf into the
elegant expensive item of the same shape of the leaf. And it turns into the
symbol of power from the means of cooling, and there were times when it was
enjoyed by only men of quality. A special significance was given to fans at
complicated Japanese functions. The shape and style differed from fan to fan depending
on the assignment of the above, like a fan for the palace functions, a fan for
wars, a fan for dances and that for tea ceremony.
The Assyrians
and the Egyptians considered the fan as a symbol of authority and paradise.
Just remember Cleopatra who loved luxuriating on the banks of the Nile cooled
by light hand-made breeze by the majestic royal fans. Greeks and Romans became
the admirers of fans as well. This item rose to the peak of the Olympia and was
introduced to the mythology by quite a tender way, as an attribute of Aphrodite,
the Goddess of love. It was called «flabellum» in Rome. The fans were made with
very long handle that required supplementary help of «flabellifers», the slaves
who were mastered in the art to swing the fan gracefully and delicately. It was
not easy to use and just shaking was not enough, and this furthered creation of
new profession.
Once upon a
time a young geisha had struck with a great idea to design her fan folded. She took
a piece of rice paper and folded it and this simple step relieved pains of her patron,
sick and suffering. And a well-known minion of Pak Chieyu in China wrote a poem
on her luxury fan in the 32nd year AC. She used to store this fan in cold
seasons and since that time «an autumn fan» became a lyrical keepsake.
Non-folded
fans were used by women, and the men used the fans, on the contrary, that were
folded in the Far East. The shape and size of fans changed by fashion trends every
year; however the number of folded sticks (plates) was always even with the
Chinese and odd with the Japanese.
Conquering
of Europe
So, what
happened to the fan in Europe at the decline of Roman Empire? However, the information
available is scanty and confused. And in the XVI century the history gets a bit
clear since it was a golden age of painting, and the high-class ladies deem it
fashionable to order their gorgeous portrays. Many of them posed with their
favorite fans. And these portrays give us the idea and concepts of the vogue
for fans of that time.
Along with the folded fans made from parchment,
many-colored fans from peacock or ostrich feathers were used. And the fan was
hanged to the waist on the golden chain. Nevertheless, the true boom was only coming.
In the XVII century the laced fans were made decorated with a mirror or precious
stones; fans styled «breeze» performed in thin and elegantly worked up plates
of ivory supported from the above by means of stretched tape and a finger-ring
from the bottom. The jewelry became more and more fantastic, and real artistic
miniatures were painted at the fans. And more precious stones are used, like gold,
silver, Bombay ebony, pearl, tortoise shell. Yet, in 1673 Ludwig XIV incorporated
a group of masters to make fans whose masterpieces were sold like hot cakes to
French coquettes. These saloon ladies by Moliere were merely «funny dreamers»
who hide their thoroughly painted faces behind the «shield of innocence».
Love for
fans
The
greatest flourishing of fans happened by the XVIII century. Being an accessory to
the female coquetry, it turned into a secret weapon of seducing, and women made
eyes behind its swinging. And the fan appeared to be a communication tool. It furthered
the chance to say about majority stuff more expressive and with lesser risk. The
cream of the high society of that times that lived a feverish social life, experienced
a permanent need in courting, compliments, love stories. And Goldoni was aware of
that and he employed in his comedies options of the double meaning game with
the help of this love tool.
The XVIII century,
the century of free morals, is also famous with its new fans with spicy pictures
forbidden for children; with strategic holes made with the purpose to
especially and secretly observe people; with complicated mechanisms by means of
which a lady could agree to something, make dating, yet these actions could not
be translated by others. Serious fans were assigned for solid persons painted
by famous artists whose works are still discussed by collectors till
up-to-date.
In the XIX and
XX centuries the fans were again used as they were assigned for primarily. It was
again used for cooling purposes and for making light artificial wind in burning
summer evenings.
|
