Fascinating object, albeit a little demodé, loved by Faraoni, Kings and Queen, the fan has been a great protagonist in the years of non -verbal communication
Of course, to see the weather of the last few days in northern Italy, where rains and thunderstorms are the masters, relegating hot and sun into a hiding place unknown to us, it may seem like a useless object; But although surrounded by a vintage halo, he is recovering a respectable position in our summers.
Born mainly as an ally to get some fresh and remove the insects, the fan, initially was a purely male tool. Male and for economically comfortable men, because it seems that centuries ago, it doesn’t matter if the plebeian class was besieged by insects or sun rays!
Male instrument because as Gerolamo Ocoferri writes in his book “The history of the fan”: “In the progressive development of civilization, the privilege of adorning was actually of the man before the woman, but the range was providently usurped by women to men to transform him into a weapon of seduction in their hands. And thus ensured to the range of immortality. They will innovate, they will never be more capable of annihilating him and not even to dismiss him from that office. ”
Elegant and refined object, made of feathers, fabric, paper or wood, has been the protagonist of different eras and cultures. In ancient Egypt, he accompanied the pharaohs, who thanks to enormous features made themselves given a delicate freshness from their slaves. In the extreme East, between China and Japan, where he boasts his most remote origins, he represented harmony and grace. Caterina de ‘Medici led him with her to France, making him known to the noblewoman of the Alps, Elizabeth was totally conquered, so much so that he almost never appeared without. Louis XIV, the sun king, was a real enthusiast, and perhaps, precisely to keep faith with his nickname, he used to give different ones to his numerous lovers.
Ventilabro, Flabello (Flabellum for the Roman Empire), abanic in Hispanic language, the fan assumes a prominent role in the eighteenth century, becoming the absolute protagonist of non -verbal language, in an era in which the communication between ladies and gentlemen was certainly not easy. Woe to openly declare one’s intentions, and even less their feelings: here then the precious Arnese rushed to the rescue of the Gentldonne on parties and in social events. Searching among the emojis of WhatsApp there is a yellow face with a finger closing the mouth, the meaning of which is: “Keep the secret”. A educated and discreet lady of the time, he would have covered his left ear with his own fan. Just as the range on the right cheek would have supported to say “yes”, or on the left one to declare a “no”. Wave it slowly indicated that the woman was married, quickly to do that she was engaged. Keeping the range open with both hands meant “it is better that you forget me”, if the face was covered, the knight had to pay attention because they were observed. If, on the other hand, the Donzella manifested herself more daring, she could keep the range totally open, covering her mouth to declare that she did not have a man, or resting the elegant object on the lips to invite the young man to kiss her, perhaps indicating the hour of the appointment with the number of slats shown.
In short, if today the air conditioning and the reduced patience to stop in little air -conditioned places have demolished its seductive potential, it is not said that this nice object, as a demodé accessory, cannot be fully re -entering the instrument of intriguing non -verbal communication (in addition to a pleasant ally against hot days).
Behind an apparently simple foam there is much more, because, by inconvenient and quoting Gerolamo Ostoferri: “The woman is still a very complicated harmony of spirit and forms, of substantiality and superficiality, a creature made sometimes perfect by the grace of movements, and also the small graceful light tool, contributes to integrating that harmony.”
