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From 17 Euros to 15,000: A Valencian Fan Workshop
One might assume that, once summer ends, a fan should be put away together with beach pareos, swimsuits, and sun hats. Yet Spanish señoras, señoritas, and even caballeros are so fond of their fans that they carry them all year round. La Cotorra visited Abanicos Carbonell, the oldest fan workshop in Valencia, where traditional Valencian fans have been made for more than 160 years.
In the very centre of Valencia stands a small but culturally significant workshop owned by the Carbonell family. Paula Carbonell, a representative of the family’s fifth generation, is the guardian of the craft. In 1864, the founder of Abanicos Carbonell, Arturo, purchased an old factory built in 1810 and managed to turn it into a model of successful artisanal production.
As in the nineteenth century, every fan is made entirely by hand, yet the traditional craft is placed within a modern context. Carbonell fans appear on fashion runways, and their collections have been exhibited in many museums across Spain.
How Much Does an Authentic Valencian Fan Cost?
Here you can find fans in every possible format: plain cotton ones (from 17 euros) and painted silk fans (from 70 euros). There are also decorative panels, traditionally used to adorn Valencian homes.
“Here is the giant fan, two metres wide. It took twelve years to complete; my father began the work. The painting was done in collaboration with the well-known Valencian artist Antonio Gavarda. It is a pastoral scene, with every figure rendered in great detail. It is, in fact, a real painting. Naturally, this is the most expensive fan in our shop — it costs 15,000 euros. But I am sure it will eventually find its buyer,” says Paula Carbonell.
Next to the display of finished pieces are fabrics stretched on a wooden frame. The fine lines gradually form a floral pattern, traditional for Valencian fans.
Fans for Caballeros
“We often receive orders for gifts. We add monograms and secret messages hidden within the folds of the fan so that only the owner knows they are there. And sometimes the owner is a man. Men also use fans. They are sturdy and functional, usually black. They are smoother, without extra embellishment, so that they do not catch on clothing when taken out of a pocket,” Paula explains.
Indeed, Valencian men carry their fans just like their keys or mobile telephones — simply slipped into the pocket of jeans or shorts.
How to Choose the Perfect Fan
“If someone wants a simple, reliable, functional fan for everyday use, I recommend choosing it not with the eyes but with the hands,” says Paula. “Firstly, it must not be too heavy; otherwise the arm will tire quickly and the fan will end up on a shelf. Secondly, the length of the folded fan should not exceed the height of the forearm, so that it is comfortable to use. And thirdly, the fan should ideally match the size of one’s bag — many Spanish women choose theirs this way, so that they can carry it with ease.”
Who Is a Teladora?
On the workshop’s upper floor works Inma Cases, whose profession is teladora (from the Spanish tela, meaning “fabric”). She is responsible for assembling the pieces.
This is how it happens: the semicircular fabric panel is placed on a corrugated base, and with quick movements the fabric is guided into the folds that create the characteristic pleated “accordion”. The fabric is treated with a special solution that allows it to retain its shape. It is then glued to the wooden ribs, the edges are finished, and a simple fan is ready. More elaborate fans — wooden, painted, or lace — each follow their own complex production process.
Fans arrived in Spain from Asia, and in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the craft flourished, becoming one of the symbols of the country and its culture. Ironically, the famous Spanish fans now have to coexist with mass-produced Chinese imitations sold in tourist shops for two euros.
Visitors may take a small glossary explaining the meanings of the traditional “fan language”. In Valencia, women actively used it centuries ago to hint at their feelings during an era of strict social conventions.
Some of the Most Common Gestures from That Time
- • Opening the fan and holding it against the right cheek — “Yes” or “I agree”
- • Opening the fan and holding it against the left cheek — “No” or “Refusal”
- • Looking constantly at the fan’s decoration — “I like you”
- • A closed fan hanging from the right hand — “I am looking for a match”
- • A closed fan hanging from the left hand — “I am not looking for a match”
- • Face covered with the fan — “We are being watched”
- • Fanning oneself slowly — “Nothing can be done”
- • Placing the fan against the left ear — “Leave me alone”
- • Adjusting one’s hair with a closed fan — “Do not forget me”