Fan

From the collections of PVMA • Digital image © Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. • Image use information

About this item

Women used fans not only to cool off, but also to convey non-verbal cues in social situations. This was especially true at gatherings involving the opposite sex. Parties and balls were not only occasions for pleasure, but complex social rituals in which participants closely observed and rated each other’s appearance and behavior. The artful use of a fan helped its owner to present an image of gentility and grace.

Related Items

Details

Item typeJewelry, Accessories
Datecirca 1800
TopicClothing, Textile, Fashion, Costume
EraThe New Nation, 1784–1815
MaterialCloth; Animal Product
Catalog #1916.18
View this item in our curatorial database →
Fan. ca. 1800. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/1916-18/. Accessed on December 9, 2024.

Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.