Hand Fans

A  Little History on Hand Fans

Fans have been used by man since ancient times with a handful of leaves providing a cooling breeze on a hot summer’s day or wafting a fire into action. In Egyptian iconography fans are used to symbolise majesty and authority. Indeed, they were discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen, with ostrich plumes and some with gold embossed designs and semi-precious jewels. Greece copied the Egyptian fans until 2nd century BC, when rich silks were imported to the country from the Orient. Even more luxurious fans were created during the Roman period, with peacock feathers a particular luxury.

Some historians believe that it was actually the Japanese who designed the folding fan after being inspired by bat wings.

From the Song Dynasty on, fan painting became an art form of its own. Writers and artists of ancient China tended to adorn the objects they loved with their art and stories, so it’s no surprise that fans became a canvas for many creatives of the time. Fans decorated with paintings and calligraphy became known as “scholars’ fans” and often reflected a person’s status.
Artwork featuring birds and flowers symbolized beauty and gracefulness, making them a popular subject among young women. Scholars, however, preferred fans adorned with the calligraphy of ancient stories that depicted wisdom and knowledge. Mythical creatures were also popular choices—dragons were frequently painted onto men’s fans while ladies typically preferred phoenixes.

Your Mission

You will be graded on.......

I have provided you with a pre-made fan.
Be careful with it when working with it, the paper is delicate.

I want you to stylize it with your own style and make it your own.

You can draw on it, paint on it, add items with glue it is up to you.

Get Creative with it.
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Creativity
Originality
Effort 
Craftsmanship

When you are done
as always

Photograph it
Post it to weebly
and turn in the link to the google classroom
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