From the dawn of history, humankind has always had the problem of keeping cool during hot days. Fans have been with us for thousands of years: from simple ones to fancy ones, fans have given breaths of fresh air to many people.
The earliest fans were made out of broad, flat leaves waved back and forth to produce a cooling effect. Palm leaves were also used. In time, fans became fancier and more decorative, as they served the purpose of being status symbols for the rich. Slaves waved long-handled, feather-covered fans for their masters and for the rulers, not only for keeping them cool but also to serve as ceremonial symbols.
Fans around the world
Among the Egyptians, fans made out of gold and ostrich feathers were buried in the tombs of pharoahs. In Native American culture, different-colored feathers in fans had different meanings, and served different purposes in religious and legal ceremonies. Rich Romans decorated their wooden fans with gold gilding.
The Chinese used different fans to describe the rank and status of the individual using it. Some artistic fans were decorated with gold paint on one side, and poems or other verses were written on another. Folding fans originated in Japan in the 6th century, and was made out of Japanese cypress tied together with thread. In Japan, fans were also used as weapons: the "tessen," or the Japanese war fan, was made out of iron spokes and could be used as a shield against arrows and as a throwing weapon, a lot like a shuriken.
Europeans did not use fans a lot until between the 13th and 14th centuries, where fans were introduced to the continent from the Middle East and Asia. The folding fan, which became popular in Asia, also became popular in Europe. These fans were made of leaves, silk, or paper, and trimmed with lace, leather, and even mica. Royalty like Queen Elizabeth I were often portrayed using fans. Common material used to make fans were ivory and tortoise shells, but rich people often had their fans decorated with gold, silver
Electric fans
The use of electricity and the progress of invention gave way to the mass-production and mass use of electric fans. In 1881, an inventor named Philip Diehl invented the ceiling fan, and is generally considered as "the father of electric fans." At that time, electric fans were usually found only in the homes of the rich, and in places like restaurants and hotels. In the 1920s, mass production was used for manufacturing, and more and more people were able to have electricity. More homeowners were able to afford electric fans for their homes.
Manufacturers of electric fans started to incorporate design aspects into their products, and soon electric fans came in many different shapes and colors. Fans with special purposes, like computer fans and exhaust fans, started to be marketed. The home use of fans declined with the introduction of air conditioning, but are still used often in places like Spain, Asia, and South America.
So whether they’re hand-held fans, electric fans, or Japanese war fans, the fan has given all of us a way to keep our cool.