FANS, instruments for producing an agi tation of the air and consisting of an extended flat surface, generally semi-circular in outline. As hand implements for cooling the air they have long been articles of luxury. Early Egyptian paintings prove familiarity with its use in a remote period. From a passage in the
to have been introduced into England from Italy in the reign of Henry VIII; and in the reign of Elizabeth they were framed of very costly materials, the body of ostrich feathers, the han dle of gold, silver or ivory, of curious work manship. Walking fans were formerly in use. They were of large size and were employed to screen the face from the sun. The Chinese have greatly excelled in the art of making fans, those of the lacquered variety showing especial skill. For common use they make a cheaper sort, con structed of polished bamboo and paper. In Japan, where to this day the fan is an indispen sable adjunct of the daily life of all classes, large rich fans are used in ceremonial dances, in which they are accessories of peculiar signi ficance. In Rome the Pope is escorted on cer manial occasions by attendants with flabella formed of peacock feathers. In Europe, France manufactures the greatest number of fans used by the world of fashion. A species of large fan known as a punkah is used in India for cooling the air of rooms and keeping down the temper ature. Fans in the form of machines are used in agriculture for winnowing grain, the original form being very simple and dating back to prim itive times. In metallurgy and other branches of manufacture fans are employed for ventilat ing and stimulating the combustion of fires; for the ventilation of mines; and for various other manufacturing purposes. The modern electric revolving fan is extensively used for cooling the air in public and private buildings. Consult Blondel 'Histoire des eventails' (Paris 1875) ; Rhead, 'History of the Fan' (London 1910) ; Salwey, 'Fans of Japan' (ib. 1894) ; 'Catalogue of the Loan Exhibition of Fans at South Kensington' (ib. 1870).