All About Hand Fans With Cynthia Fendel

ALL ABOUT All About Hand Fans

WITH Cynthia Fendel

I love fans! I have been a hand fan collector since 1974. I started collecting as a result of receiving a fan as a gift. Now, when at home or traveling, I always look for fans. I am a founding member of FANA, Fan Association of North America. I am also a member of the Fan Circle International, a UK collectors guild, as well as a member of Cercle de l' Eventail, a collector's organization based in France. I am a life member of the Fan Museum in England and a member of both the Costume Society and The Ephemera Society of America. My personal collection varies from 18th century European fans to American 1950’s advertising cardboard-on-a stick fans. I especially love novelty fans and unusual fans. While this site is dedicated to educating you about fans, if your interests are more of a commercial nature, please return to my other site HandFanPro.com, where you can book speaking engagements and contact me regarding fan appraisals.

Fans have been around forever! Evidence suggests that the folding fan first came from the Orient to Italy, and then spread through the rest of Europe. America even had fan makers, the most famous being the Hunt and Allen Fan Company. The folding fan’s popularity as a fashion accessory diminished during the turn of the century with the exception of advertising fans, which are still made today. Abanico, Eventail, Facher, Legyezö, Leque, Ogi, Uchiwa or Ventaglio, waaier- whatever you call them, fans are exciting and interesting to study! All collectors, museums, as well as those sharing an interest in antiques, advertising memorabilia, ephemera or vintage clothing are invited to contact me at:

Click on the links below to learn more about the world of fans: