The Shops at Mount Vernon Scenes Paper Fan

Martha Washington’s Fan was used in the eighteenth century as a cooling tool during hot summer days and a means of silent communication.

Our paper fan, adapted from one of Martha Washington’s fans in the collection, depicts a bucolic period scene with trees on one side and an ivory floral scene on the reverse. It opens and closes with bamboo struts. The fan measures 9-1/2 inches closed and opens to 15 inches extended.

Included with your purchase is “Language of the Fan”, an instructional sheet describing the ways to use the fan to express a sentiment across the table or the room.