New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-29
THE FLUTTERING Fan.
WHERE IT COMES FROM, now IT IS MADE AND
WHAT IT COSTS.

WHERE 1T COMES FROM. now IT Is MADE AND
WHAT IT COSTS.
Stimulated by the midsummer heat, a
TRIBUNE reporter started out recently tour of In
Qury in regard TO the from which New'fork
draws tie immense number OF fans sold here He first
with extensive importer OF Ja2anese FANS
who said in answer 90 his inquiries
Formore than a thousand years an.makng has been
a principal industry OF Japan, Lying partly IN warm
ATTITUDES Qs extremes beiug3 80 aud 55 that country
naturally felt the need OF fans In this branch or
manufacture about 100000 persons engaged out OF
population OF 100000 In the three fan-distrcts OF
Osaka. Kioto and Nagoya Millions OF fans are made
every year. good share OF which within the last
five years imported into this aud scattered
broadcast-the apanese fans combining ughtness with
artistic workmanship and IN the ordinary grades cheap
prices Their cheapness in price Is due largely TO the
low cost OF living in Japan, fow cents day being
sufficient for the native worker. The artistic workman
ship due TO natural talent cultivated through many
generations; while the lghness OF the fans comes from
the fact that most sticks made out OF bam
boo indigenous the country and growing over all OF
It's extent
"There are many varieties in bamboo. differing in
strength Its natural color is yellow or brown or
brown spotted with black; sometimes 1t is colorcd
artihclaly a maroon black. Frequently, also the
stick is lacQuered-an which japanese yet
unriyalled, and the lacquer IA in turn sprinked with
figures in relief made out OF lacquer mixed with the
dust OF copper, brass. silver gold. Other materials
for the fansticks bone ivory and wood. The
ivory is sometimes carved and inlad with mother Of
pearl, gold and silver. The wood used for sticks Is
ebony, mahogany and chestnut, and is generally
lacquered.
1.-THE tops OF a Japanese fan are made OF paper,
parchment cotton and silk The paper Is the fibre OBJ
tanned from boiling down the bark of the papertree TO
the cultivation OF which whole districts devoted.
Mulberry also used for the purpose though
-
parchment from rare tree ands favored because
OF it's strength. These tops are ornainonted with pic
tures whcnin the cheaper grades are OF course printed
and In the more expensive fdns are andpanted Inc
cOlOrng In the lower grades Is yyd In the more eXpen
Il invariably subdurd. For the trade IN this
country however. particularly Tor the western rade
bright cOlOrs often found among the extensive
fans The prices vary largely with the tops, silk cost
ing twice as much as any other material Bu ~ general
fans with bamboo-sucks run from cent 10 Y; bone
from 81 $23, and those OF begin SO and
high as 1928 MOurning.fans. with the tops OF
japanese palmleaf. or, as II II sometimes called tho
'ciurch fan. Is still popular. 1t is sold as low as or
Then the reporter turned his steps to Tanys where
he obtained these rays OF light on The subject OF fans I'M
Most Of the dress-fans from France, though the
French in tine cheaper grades 25 cents TO $50
for time pressed out OF tue market by the Japanese
fans but they rnpdy recovering thelr former
The sticks of these usually of wood bone,
and the tops OF cret0nne, SILK or satin The French
dress-fans have their sticks made OF SHELL Inotherol
pearl or ivory the tops either Of silk ostrich
feathers lace sometimes satin and Kid. The shestick
fans have usually painting their tops, and
from $50 TO $50 The laoe-fana usually have sticks OF
motherof pearl. and from $50 $3.50 Tho ivory
preferred these cost about 25 the fans Of ostrich
feathers begin about Si5. especially attractive
rangcment being a number OF broad feathers covered
with smaller In the decoration OF tho sktOpped
faus Albert, OF Paris, has especial reputation
Another fan used one OF silk, top embroidered Witha
stick Of ivory these cost about $50; with ono OF bone,
from 81 or $15 upward The mourning-fan most pop
uar is "a combination OF black silk with ebonized wood
or dark shell.
In the cheaper grades OF Vienna FANS ranging from
80 cents to $40. two pecularues noted, namely,
leather sticks and the nayng OF the figures In silk
TINS latter effect is produced by havlngtw0 layers
of silk the lower stamped with its figure Just above
which the upper layer viii be cut out"
manufacturer OF American ians said " Az yet,
American fans confined for the most part 10 the
cheaper grades The sticks in these fans made OF
wood only tue tops being mnsln cretonnc, silk satin.
One kind OF American ian however, svcry pOpularthe
extension fan with stick OF plush leather. or tns
sold thsn OF any klud produced largo
number being exported to England"