Egyptian Fan

Stay cool with this ornate Egyptian-style fan!  Ancient Egyptian fan bearers played an important role in royal households to keep the air moving in the heat. The fan was also a symbol of protection and the breath of life.

Skill Level

Beginner

Time to Make

1 hour

Adult Supervision

Yes

Egyptian Fan

Top Tip

To vary the design at the top of the fan, cut a symmetrical curved shape from the cardboard semi-circle plate before gluing it down.

How to Make

Egyptian Fan
Egyptian Fan
Egyptian Fan
  1. Cut a large cardboard plate in half then glue it onto a wooden fan, with the reverse (white) side facing upwards. Use plenty of glue and leave to dry.
  2. Paint the fan and cardboard plate with gold metallic acrylic. Leave to dry.
  3. While the paint is drying, choose 12-14 feathers for the fan. Cut off 1cm-2cm from the feathers to remove the pointed ends.
  4. Paint a pattern onto the front of the fan using gloss acrylic colours, using the curved shapes of the wooden fan and cardboard plate as a guide for the design. Leave to dry. Thinner lines and patterns can be added with deco pens.
  5. Turn the fan over then spread plenty of glue around the edge of the plate. Leave the glue for a few minutes to get tacky then stick the feathers down so they are arranged in a fan shape. Leave the glue to dry.
  6. Stick a large jewel in the middle of the fan on the front.