Antique Bamboo and Straw Hand Fan

Dimensions: 12H x 10W
Condition: Fair
Period: Early 20^th Century 50-70 years
Materials: Bamboo, straw, natural materials
Place of Origin: Korea

Before paper was widely available, fans were made of straw or bamboo. These fans were said to have varying functions and straw fans were called Paldeokseon (a fan with eight virtues). The eight virtues of the fan include: Blocking rain, repelling flies and mosquitoes, as a seat for the floor to protect your clothes, protection from the sun, act as a pointer when pointing in a direction, used as a hand gesture for telling someone to come, covering your face when encountering a debt collector, and of course, it gives off a cool breeze. A ninth common use for a straw fan was to place on top of a boiling pot to act as a lid.

Disclaimer: All information about this piece is unverified. Explanations of the origin, period, materials and use were relayed via antique dealers based in Korea. We cannot verify with 100% certainty the period, materials and actual use. Vintage items, by nature, are likely to carry various marks and indications of their age. Be aware that slight color variations may appear, and some imperfections may vary (we feel signs of use and add character to the item). We clean each item the best we can. However, some products probably need to be cleaned before personal use or display.