The hand-held fan has been in use for a long, long time. 4000 year old drawings in Egypt show elegant ladies with fans, and 3000 year old ceramics from China show men and women using fans. Ancient Greek poets wrote of fans as "scepters of feminine beauty" and the conquering Romans brought Greek fans back to Rome as objects of great value.

Through the ages, and until air conditioning became popular fifty years ago, fans were the practical and convenient way to cool oneself. Like many utilitarian objects, creativity was applied to their designs and fans became works of art, reaching a peak in Victoria England. At that time, fashion decreed that every woman have a fan, and these fans varied from cheap printed souvenirs sold by street vendors to hand painted mother of pearl and ivory inlaid with gold and precious jewels.

The whole world is not air conditioned and there are still times when a fan is a welcome accessory. Today you can get a Mariposa fan that has been designed for the American market, a fan that is a bit smaller and less obtrusive, with fabulous new fabrics and exotic woods, you can also choose from inexpensive fans perfect for beach use, lawn parties, as wedding favors, or as promotional giveaways.

Think back to the last time heat or smoke made you uncomfortable and you had to fan yourself with a program or magazine. Stuffy planes, smoky restaurants, crowded rooms, hot, humid outdoor events, are just few of the uncomfortable occasions; rendered more bearable by a Mariposa fan. Look at the Mariposa collection of fans and know that you can carry your comfort with you in a purse or pocket.

All Mariposa fans are handmade the traditional way, by artisans whose families have been making fans for generations. Careful workmanship has gone into making Mariposa hand-crafted fans of distinction.

The Mariposa collection of fans is grouped by the type of social occasion, but this is just for convenience because as you will see, most Mariposa fans can be used any time, anywhere.

• In crowded and/or stuffy indoor places such as museums and theaters.
• At outdoor events such as tennis tournaments, arts festivals, marathons.
• In smoky situations such as restaurants, some airplanes, even some outdoor venues.
• During or after physically energetic situations such as playing, tennis, hiking.
• At dancing occasions such as galas, clubs, dinner dances, weddings.

Hand-held fans have also developed a reputation as:

• An instrument of coquetry.
• A symbol of romance and femininity.
• A tool of chivalry by gentlemen concerned about the comfort of their ladies.

Mariposa is adapting the proven benefits and flair of the traditional fan with design that is quintessentially American and befitting the advent of a new millennium.

Smaller in size so as to be less obtrusive, the Mariposa fan is easier to handle and suitable for tucking into an evening bag.

Utilizing extraordinary fabrics such as fanciful organzas, translucent metallic's and water colored silks, Mariposa fans are distinctive to the point of redefining and rediscovering a feminine favorite.