Ideas for repurposing old hand fans

Question

I have several hand fans that I recently inherited. Many of them are in bad shape. I would like to find a way to use parts of them. Does anyone have any ideas about repurposing antique hand fans?

Erin · Answer

They'd be interesting in a mixed media art project. I'm thinking a shadow box type project

Wendy Aleman · Answer

Thanksgiving is coming up, why not make them turkeys and use them as centerpieces?

Ruth · Answer

I would try hair spray in an almost-hidden area.  If that stabilizes the feathers, it might be worth getting some fixative spray from an art store.  (I used hairspray on my drawings in college--too cheap for the art store!)  Anyhow, if you have any Victorian or Baroque-style furniture, mount the fans around it with hot glue on the wall, to make a vignette.  You could combine various fan bits for interest--i.e. feathers, then a mother-of-pearl piece, then a fabric bit.  This is such a beautiful collection!!  It should be seen more of the time than just at holidays!!

Erin · Answer

Yikes! Hot glue on the WALL!?

Mary Lou Pearce · Answer

I agree with the idea of stabilizing the feathers, but hot glue on the wall? I would start with a circle of light plywood or heavy cardboard. They I would glue the fans open in concentric circles on it, overlapping to hide damage. As for the broken fan pieces, you could apply them to old picture frames to make them unique.

L · Answer

Buy or make a shadow box then mount them inside as antique objects.  You can get mounting ideas from the museums displaces.

Laura Dean · Answer

I have collected a few fans over the years when I was having hot flashes.  When they broke I just glued them open and hung them on my bedroom wall.  Makes a nice collection.  If you can add a painting of a woman with a fan looks twice as good.  Some of yours could be put in a shadow box frame.

Carey · Answer

I would make or buy a box frame that you could use to create a vignette in with your fans and take a pretty victorian type card and write the history behind them on it to add to your vignette.  Thus you have a long lasting family heirloom.  Be sure to get glass for it that protects from UV light.  You don't want them to deteriorate further.  In addition, I would check with a museum curator to ask what would be the best way to preserve them.  You can use the nice parts for visible areas and the broken parts behind other part of the fans to craft your vignette.

Karla Mathis Bostic · Answer

I would use a room decider. The ones with thin wood or material, use very thin board in place of slots, stain or paint a color that compliments your fans. Then along the top of the wood open one fan out and attach it however you prefer, using hot glue, or small hooks, brackets to hold them in place. Then on bottom of that slat of wood open one in the opposite direction, carrying on the pattern till the end of that section. If the fans are of high quality or sentiment, you could put a piece of clear acrylic to seal it, or perhaps even glass. It really depends on the price you want to invest, and how much sentimental value they have. It would make a gorgeous display next to your vanity or such so that it could be seen and not touched.

Kim Salmi · Answer

I love the shadow box idea from L .... probably because I had the same thought jump into my head  LOL  ..lined perhaps with a soft stripe or very small print paper for background ...nothing too  loud to take away from the fans themselves ....despite their conditions ..they are lovely mementos ..nice to see they are still being  appreciated : )

Sally-Charles Evans · Answer

I repaired some I have and they are on the wall in our bedroom.

Mary · Answer

My mother gave me a fan that had been her grandmother's. I put it in a shadow box frame and it's kept it pretty and safe for many years

Elainr · Answer

Frame them. They are great.

Marie Stone · Answer

I have cheap comic convention fan my friend gave me and the hinge on the center came out when my other friend and his boyfriend were playing with it I'd rather not throw it away since it was a pregraduation gift so I'd like to reuse it somehow but I only seem able to find ideas for electric fans not cheap black hand fans lol

Margaret day · Answer

i would fan them out like windmill and put farmhouse sign out with few cow picture

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Ideas for repurposing old hand fans

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