The feather and tuft fans in use from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries and later were formed of the plumes of the peacock, the ostrich, and the paroquet, dyed various colours: the number of the feathers varied from three to twenty or more, and were arranged so as to imbricate the plumes in the gradation of their natural growth. These were set in handles of carved ivory and the more precious metals, generally silver, and were often richly jewelled, and suspended from the girdle by a slender chain. Of their cost we have a hint in Marston’s satires:
‘How can she keepe a lazie serving-man
And buy a hoode and silver-handled fan
With fortie pound?’
Silver was probably the material of the handle of Mistress Bridget’s fan in the theft of which Falstaff and his Ancient were implicated.
Falstaff.And when Mistress Bridget
Lost the handle of her fan, I took’t upon
Mine honour thou hadst it not.
Pistol.Didst thou not share? hadst thou not fifteen pence?
References to the silver-handled fan occur commonly in old plays: