Five fantastic ideas to keep cool using an auction purchase

And seeing as air conditioning uses up loads of electricity (and hits your bank account) why not go low tech and buy a fan to cool down?

Morphets auction house in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is holding a dedicated Fans & Finery sale on March 31.

Here are five suggestions on what to buy.

Thistle do just fine

This wonderful Art Nouveau fan (top) with a thistle design if marked on the verso to the left Duvelleroy. The guard length is about 10.5 inches or 27cm and it is described as ‘in good clean order, very slightly warped, noted only when closed. A few small nibbles in the horn noted on the gorge sticks.’

The estimate is £500-800.

Bid for the Art Nouveau fan with a thistle design on thesalerom.com.

Silver star

Silver lacquer early 19th century Chinese wood brisé fan – estimate £400-800 at Morphets.

This rare silver lacquer early 19th century Chinese wood brisé fan, guard length approx. 7 and 3/8 inches or 20cm, is guided at £400-800. The condition is given as ‘Rubbing to the lacquer, new silk ribbon, possibly one side stick absent, one stick noted to have been split vertically but this now appears restored.’

See the saleroom.com to view the silver lacquer early 19th century Chinese wood brisé fan.

Must be dreaming

Midsummer Night's Dream: an original handmade lace fan leaf by Ann Collier – estimate £300-500 at Morphets.

Midsummer Night's Dream: an original handmade lace fan leaf by Ann Collier, 20th century, depicting the characters and fairies from Shakespeare's play in relation to 'I know a bank where wild thyme grows' etc. Approx 35cm, ‘in very good order’, Morphets says the workmanship is ‘particularly proficient given the detailed costumes and use of shiny threads to add mystique to the fairies’. The estimate is £300-500.

Check thesaleroom.com to bid for this Ann Collier Midsummer Night's dream fan.

Six appeal

Fan depicting Léopold II et Marie-Louise Infante d'Espagne – estimate £250-350 at Morphets.

For something a bit different try this hexagonal, cardboard, face screen with lightly shaped wood handle, featuring Léopold II et Marie-Louise Infante d'Espagne, applied in the very centre with a lightly coloured print of the couple, wearing elegant 18th century costume. Léopold II was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia and Hungary, and Archduke of Austria from 1790-92. He married Marie-Luisa of Spain in 1765 and they went on to have eight children.

Measuring approx. 38.5cm by 19cm at the widest point, it is catalogued as: ‘In used condition with some scratching, and soiling seen from the verso. The print of the couple is clear. The braid needs to be reapplied in places.’

Estimate £250-350.

View this fan depicting Léopold II et Marie-Louise Infante d'Espagne on thesaleroom.com.

Family values

Fan c.1830s showing a bright depiction of a family celebration – estimate £180-250 at Morphets.

Dating from the c.1830s, this fan shows a bright depiction of a family celebration, taking refreshment on a terrace, the guests in medieval costume, the verso showing a gentleman and his lady buying flowers. The condition is given as ‘in good order, the leaf is a little dry and the upper guard has a good clean repair at the shoulder.’

It is guided at £180-250.

Fan c.1830s showing a bright depiction of a family celebration – check thesaleroom.com.