4000 year old paintings from Egypt depict stories of refined ladies using hand-held fans. Even the Ancient Greeks felt that fans were synonymous with a woman’s elegance and beauty. The fan served two main purposes: first, it kept the woman cool in times before air conditioning, and second, the fan was an important accessory to accompany a magnificent gown. However, as fans gained popularity, other uses emerged. Fans were employed to shield the eyes and skin from the undesirable effects of sun and indoor fires on a lady’s complexion. Fans could also be used to hide a blush during a flirtatious encounter with a young gentleman. The intricate and expensive designs that adorned each fan made it yet another canvas to display a work of art. The Dacotah Prairie Museum received a collection of over fifty fans from a single donor. The fans come from all over the world including Japan, Paris, and Spain. The pink feathered fan once belonged to Eleanor Roosevelt. |
