When the temperature rises, who hasn't automatically reached for any handy object to help fan away the heat?

In tropical climates, before the advent of modern conveniences like air conditioning, fans, both ceiling and hand-held versions, were necessary. In fact, the use of personal fans is recorded as far back as the reign of the Egyptian King Tutankhamun and in ancient China, as well as in pottery shards dating from the Roman period recovered from the Iberian Peninsula. These early fans were typically fashioned from feathers, woven reeds, bamboo, paper, silk and parchment.

By the 16th century, flat fans were known and used in Europe, but it wasn't until the 18th century, when the pleated, foldable fan was introduced, that this handy tool became a must-have accessory for ladies of the times.

As such, it was elevated to an art form in both its confection and its use. Master fan makers fashioned works of art from wood, ivory, fine linen, and exquisite laces. Fans were embroidered or painted with an assortment of motifs and colors to suit all tastes, social statuses and occasions, from virginal white for brides to ebony hued ones for widows. And, just as flowers and colors carried their own special messages, abanicos became not just a useful tool to relieve the heat, but a means of communication.

By the 19th century, the art and language of the abanico had developed into a complex code, used especially between lovers. Colonial coquettes, normally chaperoned during all social outings, found that they literally held in their hands an elaborate and sensual way to discreetly encourage or dissuade suitors, signal their emotions, or set up clandestine meetings.

In essence, this intriguing language gave ladies the means to bypass social etiquette and take the initiative in their relationships. In the early 1800s, British Prime Minister Disraeli likened them to swords and swore they often did more damage-while the class conscious could tell at a glance a woman's status by the fan she carried and by the way she wielded it. The clergy, unsurprisingly, denounced them as wicked.

Although the language of the abanico is today obsolete, personal fans continue to be popular for everyday use in many countries, and are often used for decoration. Antique and vintage fans are collector's items and can command hefty prices. Here is a brief lexicon of the now forgotten art and language of the abanico.

The Lost Language and Art of the Abanico