Oriental Paper Fans

Collectors have admired highly decorated Chinese Fans for centuries.

Writing or painting on fans was recorded in very early history. In 33 BC a consort to an emporer in the Han dynasty wrote poetry and songs on her fans. By the Sung dynasty (960-1279 AD) painted circular fans became very popular in court circles and court artists, including emporers, are recorded as having painted these types of fans which became known as "palace fans". These fans became so treasured as art works that many were immediately dismounted from their frames and mounted in books. Fortunately this practice preserved many ancient fans which can still be seen today.

The art of fan decoration became more elaborate and specialised over time. Larger "canvasses" were needed and large wall fans began to be made, purely for decorative purposes.