Old-fashioned fans are today mostly appreciated for the craftsmanship and delicacy with which they were produced. But in former times they had their own special function in the hands of women of certain social ranks. Not just useful articles, they were powerful transmitters of messages. With deft movements of their fans corresponding to a unique code, women were able to signal their thoughts and their intentions to their admirers without using a single word.
With the aid of comprehensive illustration, Wayne Roberts endeavours anew to decipher the language of the fan, a mode of communication that has unfortunately disappeared.