Today we welcome Victorian costume expert Karlee Etter who’s going to tell us how during the Victorian era fans were used for far more than keeping the bearer cool.
The Secret Language of the Fan
by Karlee Etter
For much of the nineteenth century and well into the early decades of the twentieth, women were expected to conduct themselves in an even-tempered manner. A woman’s deportment or behavior, especially in public was expected to be gracious, courteous, and respectable. Any demonstration of the contrary was frowned upon not only by parents and potential suitors, but from contemporaries, as well. Vocally rejecting a suitor was deplorable, even if a woman believed him to be unacceptable. Likewise flirting with a desirable suitor was equally appalling. So, while in attendance at a Ball or other social gathering, what was a woman do to when faced with numerous men, all vying for her attention; how was she to express or communicate her “choice” or “choices” without violating those stifling rules of etiquette? With visual clues, of course; although simply using facial expression was often too subtle. Therefore, the secret language of the hand-fan might be employed to clarify a woman’s acceptance or rejection of potential suitors.
However, if the language of the fan was a secret, how did young women learn the various silent gestures of the fan? If such a language really did exist and some historians will argue that it did not, others believe the language of the fan was passed down from woman to woman. Each gesture of the hand holding a fan contained a powerful hidden meaning.
If a young woman was unavailable, she might gesture in the following manner: Fanning slowly meant, “I am married”, or, fanning quickly, “I am engaged.” Twirling her fan in the right hand meant, “I love another.” Or, if the young man was of interest as a friend rather than a suitor, she might drop the fan, which communicated, “We will be friends.” Then, by placing the fan behind with a finger extended meant, “Goodbye.”
Now, let’s imagine a young woman is available (not spoken for); she might begin her secret discussion with a new acquaintance and appropriate suitor in the following manner:
1) If she holds the fan in her left hand in front of her face, “I am desirous of your acquaintance.”
2) By touching her finger to the tip of the fan she would be gesturing, “I wish to speak to you.” Or carrying the fan in her left hand, indicates, “Come and talk to me”.
3) Responding to a cue from her suitor, she might continue with, “Yes” by letting the fan rest on her right cheek.
4) Or if she rests the fan against her left cheek, she is saying, “No”.
5) A closed fan touching her right eye, “When may I be allowed to see you?” Or, a partially open fan showing the number of fan-sticks indicated the hour at which she agreed to meet her suitor.
6) Opening the fan wide, “Wait for me.”
7) Placing the fan behind the head, “Do not forget me.”
8) Fan in her right hand in front of her face, “Follow me.”
9) Of course, using the silent language of the fan didn’t always mean the two sweethearts were succeeding in their covert communication – there was always the risk that some busy-body would spy the young couple’s interaction. With that, the young woman might twirl her fan in the left hand, which meant, “We are being watched.”
10) Covering the left ear with an open fan, “Do not betray our secret.”
Once the couple had an established relationship, there were still rules of etiquette and spoken phrases of love that were never to be expressed aloud, unless in the privacy of one another’s company. Rarely would an unengaged couple be alone, especially within a strict New England community. So, even in such a setting, the secret language of the fan was useful – especially if the young couple was chaperoned by old, Puritanical, spinster, Aunt Bitty. Then their “secret” communication might unfold in the following manner:
11) Drawing the fan across the eyes, “I am sorry.”
12) Hands clasped together holding an open fan, “Forgive me.”
13) The fan placed near the heart, “You have won my love.”
14) Presenting the fan shut, “Do you love me?”
15) Drawing the fan across her cheek or hiding her eyes behind an open fan, “I love you!”
16) Half-opened fan pressed against her lips or putting the fan handle to her lips, “Kiss me” or “You may kiss me.”
17) Shutting a fully opened fan slowly, “I promise to marry you.”
Not every form of communication with the fan was intended to encourage or continue a relationship. The fan’s secret language might also be used to discourage or kindly reject a potential suitor, or communicate the absolute offensive nature of a young man toward a young woman.
18) Drawing the fan across the forehead, “You have changed.”
19) Carrying the open fan in the right hand, “You are too willing.”
20) Fan held over left ear, “I wish to get rid of you.”
21) Threatening movements with a closed fan “Don’t be so imprudent.”
22) Opening and closing fan several times, “You are cruel.”
23) Drawing the fan through her hand, “I hate you!”
Whatever the historians say, I trust that the nineteenth century language of the fan was a form of communication fundamental to the romance of America’s Victorian Era. Not only did it afford a bond between generations of women, but it also offered a form of communication enabling young women an outlet to express sincere feelings towards suitors in an acceptable manner and within the confines of the Victorian Era’s oppressive etiquette.
STEAMED! 
Hmmm…I’ve searched and searched many primary sources and have only found references to the language of the fan in articles and books about Spain and Spaniard women (see here and here for example). With that in mind, I could definitely see possibilities in a steampunk romance set in Spain. Imagine, a Spaniard maiden signaling her comrades beneath her mantilla to attack the enemy!
you may wish to go farther back in your search, as the language of fans isn’t actually Victorian at all. The late 17th century saw its first emergence as such. Addison quipped about it publicly in 1711. One version of School for Scandal included a fan-misunderstanding gag. Et c.
But bear in mind that it was always more or less idiolectic to a certain “set”, le Beau Monde, much like 13375p34k in its origins. the Victorians only popularized it as a sentimental throwback; in their time the Language of Flowers had much wider currency and a much more comprehensive vocabulary, anyway.
I never mentioned that the language of the fan originated with the Victorians, only the possibility of its use and how a young woman might use it to her benefit. Either way, using the language of the fan in writing historical fiction gives a writer lots of fun stuff to work with.
Perhaps. But the sites you noted only made mention of Spanish sources. Not others – I also have not found any sites that say there was no such thing in America. So as I noted, there are historians that argue it did not exist – but as a writer of historical fiction, the language of the fan gives a writer lots to play with in. KE
As an ex-actress, I’ve worked with fans in period pieces (Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals comes to mind – and then there’s School for Scandal) and used them as a dancer as well (in California Ballet’s The Legend of Josepha, plus the Spanish dance in The Nutcracker). There most definitely was a language of the fans; several of your examples are those that were handed down to me from Flamenco dancers (which is yet a whole ‘nother ball of wax, lol!).
Fascinating article!
I am an actress, too — all that experience has come in handy when portraying my alter-ego at a local museum. My “character” was born in 1830 and the setting at museum is 1876. She is the wife of a whaling captain who spent twenty years at sea with her father (as a child) and then returned to sea with her husband years later. Yes, women really did live on board whaling vessels during America’s Victorian Era – the topic of my blog; where there are daily posts, primarily excerpts from the 19th century journals of real Sister-Sailors (whaling wives).
Thanks for the comment, I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
KE
http://www.karleeaturner.wordpress.com
Victorian America in the Age of Sail: Women at Sea
What a wonderful article and thank you for sharing.
They say most communication is non-verbal so having a fan handy would be a good prop.
From this article I’ve discovered a short cut perhaps, namely when I’m out in public places I should just hold a fan over my left ear whenever a chatty lunatic approaches…