Novelty Hand Fans, Fashionable Functional Fun Accessories of the Past [Color] [Paperback]

Cynthia Fendel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2006

FANS have been around since the beginning of time. By the 19th century, fans were manufactured in every country in the world as devices used to stir the air as well as fashion statements. Novelty Hand Fans is the first book to take an in-depth look at 19th and 20th century novelty fans. This compressive and beautifully photographed book will educate as well as entertain its readers. Chapters cover topics such as Floral Bouquet Fans, Parasol, Purse & Hat Fans, Compact, Grooming & Perfume Fans, Cigar, Dagger & Pistol Fans, Mechanical Hand Fans and Fans Made With Unique Materials. An entire chapter is devoted to The Language of the Fan, with newly uncovered information and photographs about America's relationship with a fan language. Cynthia Fendel has been collecting and researching hand fans for over three decades, and her love for novelty fans is apparent in this well researched book showing over 300 photos and illustrations. If you have an interest in fans, antiques, fashion or vintage clothing and accessories, Novelty Hand Fans, Fashionable Functional Fun Accessories of the Past is the book for you!

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Hand Fan Productions; 1ST edition (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970885210
• ISBN-13: 978-0970885210
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cynthia Fendel has been collecting and researching hand fans since 1974. She is a founding member of FANA, Fan Association of North America, an educational and charitable organization united to promote hand fans as art and historical artifacts. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Hand Fan Museum in Healdsburg, CA, America's only museum devoted to fans. She is a member of the UK Fan Circle Inter-national, French Cercle de l' Eventail, Costume Society of America, Ephemera Society of America and a life member of The Fan Museum in England, where her fans have been on display. Known around the world as one of the leading experts on hand fans, Ms. Fendel conducts fan appraisals via the Internet. Her third book NOVELTY HAND FANS received rave reviews. She maintains an educational website called ALL ABOUT HAND FANS WITH CYNTHIA FENDEL. Her Featured Fans page changes seasonally, inviting Internet users to view fans from her personal collection.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Novelty Hand fans, October 25, 2007

By 

Dianna Diatz "Dianna" (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Novelty Hand Fans, Fashionable Functional Fun Accessories of the Past (Paperback)

For anyone interested in costumes and accessories, the book, "Novelty Hand Fans" is FAN-TASTIC (pun intended). It is clearly written and wonderfully illustrated, offering details and descriptions.

There is a glossary as well as line drawings showing the different types of fans in the beginning of the book. This helps to delineate the structural differences between fans.

What is so remarkable about this book are the photographs of such a wide variety of styles of antique fans, old advertisements and photographs of people holding fans in portraits.

It is inspiring to see the art involved in making and decorating fans. This is a book one wants to leaf through again and again simply because the author is so thorough in her writing, and because there are so many amazing fans to gaze upon.

This book is really a bargain when you realize the enormous amount of research the author put into creating it. The layout and chapters are clear and easy to follow. For collectors or art lovers, this is a fascinating book to savor.

It is so well thought out -- and even includes a humorous chapter on the Language of the Fan with funny photos, period graphics and song lyrics!

The book includes an astonishing collection of fans ranging from parasol fans to puzzle fans! It lists a detailed bibliography, fan museums and organizations.

If this book lacks anything, it is an index. Perhaps in the next edition, this feature will be added. But other than that, I can find nothing but praise for this wonderful book.

I admit it -- I'm a big FAN of the book, NOVELTY HAND FANS!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best and most fascinating book on FANS ever published!, December 12, 2006

By 

Michele Ross "Traveling Collector" (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Novelty Hand Fans, Fashionable Functional Fun Accessories of the Past (Paperback)

Not only are the photographs gorgeous but the book is filled to the brim with tons of information on every kind of fan imaginable! I learned all about the many different kinds of fans that were made, and unlike most books, there were photos of people holding fans! If you want to learn about hand fans, this is a wonderful book and I highly suggest you get a copy.

5.0 out of 5 stars A neglected area of Fan collecting is now covered., December 15, 2006

By 

G. Gould - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Novelty Hand Fans, Fashionable Functional Fun Accessories of the Past (Paperback)

Imagine the excitement of finding a well researched book that leads one into area of Fan collecting that has been neglected until now.

Novelty Fans have been ignored in the past by many collectors but no longer. The bar has been raised with this beautifully illustrated reference tome. The authors overall dedication to this subject is to be congratulated.