European fan

In Europe, during the Middle Ages, the fan was absent. The West's earliest fan is a flabellum (or ceremonial fan), which dates to the 6th century. Hand fans were reintroduced to Europe in the 13th century and 14th century. Fans from the Middle East were brought back by Crusaders. In the 15th century, Portuguese traders brought fans to Europe from China and Japan. Fans became generally popular. In the 1600s, the folding fan, introduced from China, became popular in Europe. In the 17th century and 18th century, fans reached a high degree of artistry and were being made throughout Europe. Folded fans of lace, silk, or parchment were decorated and painted by artists. Fans were imported from China by the East India Companies at this time, also. Around the middle 1700s, inventors started designing mechanical fans. Wind-up fans (similar to wind-up clocks) were popular in the 1700s. In the 19th century in the West, European fashion caused fan decoration and size to vary.