The Wonderful Spanish Abanico: The Best Fashion Accessory During The Early Iberian Society

In the early days of Spain, the most modern accessory for women was the beautiful Spanish fan. Used not only as a versatile cooling tool, Spanish fans have created their exceptional mark in the Romantic Era. During the 19th century, Spanish women would use fans to hide or express amorous feelings towards a courting male, complete with the batting of their dark eyelashes under the exquisite embroidered fans. These lace-embroidered masterpieces were also regarded as a status representation in the Spanish Iberian society.

Nowadays, you can hardly see this wonderful accessory being used by the charming Spanish women. However, a band of Spanish artists have been trying to revive this memorable tradition, by drawing their artworks on the surfaces of the delicate fans. Usually known as "abanico" in Spanish, these folding canvasses have been the major tools used by abstract artists to express their vision and to promote the comeback of Spanish fans into the world of fashion. The typical designs used are elegantly colored floral patterns, but present-day Spanish artists are trying to modernize and create fans with unusual shapes and colors, similar to a stained glass painting. The delicate Spanish Fan is not as notable as it was before, but it is undeniably a fashion accessory rich in Spanish history.