SPANISH FAN
SPANISH FAN
Today, rarely who, having visited Spain, will leave without taking with them a wonderful souvenir, a piece of Spain - a fan. It is a kind of symbol of this country and the traditional Spanish costume will be devoid of expressiveness and historical accuracy without this bright accent. But even if it is not used for its intended purpose, it can bring the Spanish spirit and flavor into the house. Fans made of paper, plastic, wood, lace, colorfully painted with flowers or views of Spain will help remind you of this hospitable country.
Théophile Gaultier, when he traveled to Spain in 1840, was very surprised by the appearance of women. They might not have shoes, but they certainly did have a fan. And until now, among Spanish women, the fan remains a necessary subject in life.
The East was the birthplace of the fan - there it was one of the attributes of royal dignity. In India, the fan was a sign of kingship; in Japan, it was a symbol of military power. The fan emphasized the greatness of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt, and was also an emblem of happiness. There was even a title “bearer of the fan on the left side,” and only persons of the royal family were concerned about such an important matter.
There is an interesting legend about the emergence of the folding fan, which was invented around the seventh century AD. The Japanese master, observing the folding of the wings of a bat, came up with this fashion attribute. The name of such a fan is "komori", which is translated from Japanese as "bat".
In the XVII-XVIII centuries. the fan is widely used among the inhabitants of Italy, France, Spain and England. It becomes a kind of instrument of social distinction, elegance and female coquetry. Queen Elizabeth I of England considered the fan to be the only gift the queen could accept and thus amassed a large collection of fans. In Spain, the fan generally becomes a kind of symbol of the country.
From the history
Folding fans appeared in Spain in the 16th century and soon became so popular that the first workshops for their production appeared in Madrid. By the 18th century, Valencia had become the main production center for abanico español (Spanish fan). Dozens of craftsmen have already worked here, the most famous of whom was the French protégé of the Count of Floridablanca, Eugenio Prost. And everything would be fine with them, if not for the avalanche of imported goods from Italy and France, from which it was necessary to somehow defend themselves. The first step was taken in 1679, when King Charles II severely restricted the flow of imports of fans from neighboring countries. Business has improved. The ranks of craftsmen began to expand and gain strength. It was decided to create a "trade union". But the first attempt, on June 8, 1693, failed ignominiously. And then Philip V (1700-1724) came to power, who, being a French, thought little about the Spanish masters. The restrictions were lifted, and a stream of fans from France, Italy, Holland and England poured into Spain again. The situation changed only with the arrival of the next king.
Since the middle of the 18th century, Valencia has become Europe's premier fan production site. The royal factory (Real Fabrica de Abanicos) has been operating here since 1832. In 1825, two main European craftsmen moved here - the French Simonet and Coustelier, who, although they worked in Valencia, still assembled fans from French parts. Nevertheless, already in the first half of the 19th century, the Spaniards finally conquered the market. In 1840, the most famous fan workshops became - Romualdo Morera, Jose Tior, Jose Herrans and the workshop of the most famous innovator of the fan business, Mr. José Colomina y Arquer (1809 - 1875), nicknamed Marqués de Colomina, with the emergence whose splendid Spanish fan becomes the # 1 national product.
A few more words should be said about Francisco Martin y Alpuente, who made fans between 1850 and 1860 and became famous for the famous replica fans of the time of Queen Isabelinos ("isabelinos"), one of the side panels of which was equipped with something like a rear-view mirror allowing the girl to see everything that is happening behind her. Such fans were also called cotilla (gossip girl).
Paying tribute to the Valencian craftsmen, one should not forget that, in parallel with Valencia, abanicos were produced in almost all major cities of Spain.
Spanish fans are still made only by hand and are made from a variety of materials: natural wood, bone, mother of pearl, bronze, filigree silver, stones, glass or enamel, swan feathers. All kinds of fabrics are also used: silk, velvet, lace, crepe, etc. Spanish masters produce fans for all occasions: for going to church and visiting guests, for visiting the opera and bullfighting, for weddings and flamenco, for ladies and gentlemen.
Fan tongue
Also, the language of the fan appears, which has dozens of positions that are understandable only to initiates. These signs could communicate at a distance. In Spain, according to etiquette, the caballero could not always talk to his beloved. Here the fan came to the rescue. With his help, lovers expressed themselves at a distance with gestures and mysterious signs.
So, let's get acquainted with some of the secret movements and signs of the fan:
“Yes” - put the fan with your left hand on your right cheek.
"No" - put an open fan with your right hand to your left cheek.
"Gratitude" - a folding fan with a simultaneous tilt of the head.
“Impossibility” is a half-open, downward-looking fan.
“I love you” - point to the heart with a closed fan with the right hand.
“I don’t love you” - make a closed fan movement away from yourself.
“My thoughts are always with you” - half open the fan and easily run it over the forehead several times.
“I don’t feel like you” - open and close the fan, holding it in front of your mouth.
"I will come" - holding the fan with the left side in front of the person with whom you are talking, press the fan to your chest and then quickly wave in the direction of the interlocutor.
“I will not come” - keep the left side of the open fan in front of the person with whom the conversation is going.
"Don't come today" - draw a closed fan along the outside of your hand.
"Come, I'll be happy" - holding an open fan in your right hand, slowly fold it in the palm of your left hand
"Be careful, we are being watched" - with an open fan, touch the left ear.
"Be quiet, they are eavesdropping on us" - to touch your lips with a closed fan.
"I want to dance with you" - wave an open fan several times to yourself.
"You upset me" - quickly close the fan and hold it between folded hands.
"Follow me" - patting on the leg from the side.
"I am ready to follow you" - patting on the leg from the front.
"Step back, make way!" - a folded fan aimed at a man.
“Get out! Get out! " - a sharp gesture of the folded fan with the handle forward.
