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A fan basically has two distinct parts: the leaf, or the pleated and painted fabric part of the fan, and the frame.
The hand-painted silk fan is one of the star products we offer our customers at ManosdeAgua. It is an original product, ideal as a complement or accessory, which has always been characterized by artisanal craftsmanship from start to finish.
At ManosdeAgua, we are experts in the creation and making of hand-painted silk fans, and for this reason, we will detail to you precisely what the essential parts of the fan are.
The LEAF
The fan’s leaf is the most visible and striking part of the piece. It can be made of cotton, paper, lace, other fabrics, or silk. At ManosdeAgua, we always work with natural silk. Depending on the size of the fan, the type of silk will vary. The goal is for the leaf to be a material that can be starched, pleated, and glued to the sticks and that is not too thick so that the fan can open and close easily. The fabric can be plain, patterned, or hand-painted.
A silk fan can be painted once the silk is already mounted on the leaf, or before mounting it by stretching it on a frame, which allows for working with more detail and quality on the silk design. At ManosdeAgua, we paint with steam-fix dyes, painting the leaf pieces on a frame, then fixing the dye in the steamer, starching the silk, and pleating it.
The FRAME
The fan’s frame can be of different types: natural, polished, lacquered, engraved, and openwork, or a combination of these characteristics. Furthermore, it is also important to consider the material used. It can be made of different woods, pear, kotibé, birch, palo santo, mother-of-pearl, or other types.
The frame has two clear parts. The guard, which is the widest part of the frame joined by a pin or ring ending in a rosette. On the other hand, the upper part of the frame onto which the leaf is mounted consists of the ribs. The two outer sticks, the first and the last, are the guards or end sticks, which are wider and thicker.
