Painted Wall Fans

Painted wall fans have a long history dating back to the New Stone Age. Actually, the earliest traces of painted wall fans dates back to 770-256 B.C., in China, during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. These early painted wall fans were two long-handled fans found on a bronze ware. The remains of a feather fan with a wooden handle also dates to around that time, and could have been the first painted wall fan with a wooden handle. During that time, fans were mostly used as a symbol of power and protected their owners from the sun and wind.

Later on, around 581-907 A.D., during the Sui and Tang dynasties, palace fans were the fashion – and many of these were painted wall fans made of silk mounted on bamboo or wooden ribs. These painted wall fans came in a variety of shapes. In the past (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) the painted wall fan was shaped like a half circle. But during the Sui and Tang dynasties, painted wall fans were shaped elliptical, round and egg shaped. Other painted wall fans were hexagonal, octagonal and even shaped like flowers. These painted wall fans were most popular with the ladies, as is evident from the many ancient poems passed down to this day.

Painted wall fans today are mostly shaped in a half circle and are made of canvas attached to bamboo wood. The painted wall fan can close and open, and although too big to be used for practical reasons, remains one of the most cherished pieces of Oriental artwork available. Painted wall fans come in a myriad of colors, patterns and designs, while usually either 24 or 35 inches in width. Most painted wall fans reflect art that embodies the Orient, although some fans are painted with other themes.

Such other themes on painted wall fans can include North American symbols, such as an eagle, wolf or Native American Indian. These painted wall fans can also include different types of animals, such as penguins, owls, dolphins and lions. Painted wall fans are becoming popular due to their beauty and shape, which is a novelty over the more traditional square or rectangular Oriental painting. The relatively low prices of painted wall fans also make them an attractive art piece.