History of Spanish Fans

History of Spanish Fans

Today we are going to talk about the history of Spanish Fans, or abanicos in Spanish. This practical and simple heat relieving charm is a must souvenir while you are in Madrid enjoying some the best Spanish tapas and history, we are also going to recommend where to buy authentic them in Madrid and explain how women actually used to use these alluring Spanish fans to secretly communicate with men!

It was back in the 15^th century when European voyagers brought fans back from their travels to China, history confirms that even before China, fans date back to Korea.

In the 18th century during France’s reign of Lous XIV and Luis XV, fans became not only practical but luxurious, made with expensive Italian clothes, precious stones or even embroidered with gold.

The first Spanish fans craftsmen in Spain occurred during the 17^th century. Renown painters were hired to hand paint them for the nobility. A sample of these beautifully made fans appears in the 1635 painting from Velazquez, la Dama del abanico, the Dame of the fan.

Spanish fans were actually used as a flirting communication device where women would turn and hold the fans in certain angels to express rejection or acceptance towards their male counterparts.

Today, Spanish fans aren’t as commonly used as they used to be in Spain, although elder Spanish women still use them in summer. Spanish fans are often associated with Flamenco shows, and it’s where our Madrid tapas tours customers ask us where they would be able to buy authentic Spanish fans in Madrid. And we have one place that has been making them since 1823: Casa de Diego, located at the heart of Madrid’s historical center, the address is PUERTA DEL SOL, 12 – 28013 MADRID, http://casadediego.info/en/

Join us on one of our many Madrid tapas tours!