Fans: More Than a Beautiful Object

From these two countries, use of the fan in all its variations spread around the world.

In Spain, the use of fans has been documented since the Islamic era. The country soon became one of the main centers of fan production, culminating in the establishment of the Real Fábrica de Abanicos (Royal Fan Factory) in the 19th century.

The factory produced a wide variety of fans, extending their use to all social classes, ages, and genders...

...and also for any occasion (parties, mourning, day-to-day, etc.), helping to create the typical image of "Spanishness" abroad.

A vital fashion accessory and a tool for seduction, flirtation, and even modesty...

...the fan is inextricably linked to female nature, and the feminine image.

In the hands of women, it became a form of non-verbal communication; a way to express feelings and coded messages...

...creating its own secret language and allowing women a certain freedom of expression...

...at a time, in the 19th century, when social and moral conventions prohibited public displays of emotion.

New systems of communication have since made the fan redundant in private communication...

...but they are still widely used and have experienced a resurgence after years of decline, remaining firmly embedded in Spanish culture...

...they are still an essential accessory for the hot summer months, and have been reinvented as a fashionable item...

...as a means of expression in flamenco, and even a souvenir for tourists.