Sensu Construction

[Malek]

I'm looking to get into make sensu using period construction methods, but I can't seem to find any information on how they were made. The one site I found listed that might have had info seems to have been taken down. If I were to hazard a guess, I would think they were made with rice glue, paper, and cypress, but I don't know if the paper used in the Heian period is anything like the paper that is used now. The few examples of sensu I've found in online museum catalogs don't have very in-depth descriptions of the paper itself, just the decor.
Anyone know of good books or articles that could point me in the right direction?

[Saionji Shonagon]

I came to the conclusion that my stuff-makin' abilities were not up to pursuing sensu construction when experiments with paper, brass pins and basswood yielded up the crappiest sensu ever made. Once I acquired some modern sensu, I didn't bother - I've managed to find some that have period or period-neutral decoration and am happy enough to use those.

Bamboo is even stronger than cypress(hinoki) at the splits desirable for fans, so that's another material to be considered.

Ogi: A History of the Japanese Fan is a place you might start, however, most of what's in there is Edo period or later.

www.amazon.com/Ogi-A-History-Japanese-Fan/dp/1872357083

[bovil]

Nov 29, 2012 14:37:17 GMT -5 Saionji Shonagon said:

I came to the conclusion that my stuff-makin' abilities were not up to pursuing sensu construction when experiments with paper, brass pins and basswood yielded up the crappiest sensu ever made.

I think the killer is the pin. Being able to press an axle with ends that hold the bones together tightly enough is difficult at best.

A paper sensu requires curved/sprung outer bones to essentially clamp the fan together when closed. Another tricky thing, but I expect bamboo or cypress could be gently steam-bent to create the curve.

Hiogi, with nothing but the blades and thread for structure, is going to require a very fine control and a very tight axle.

I agree on the "find a nice modern sensu with period-appropriate decoration."

[Malek]

I think I have most of the construction figured out, but yeah, the pin is the issue for me, as well. The fans that I do have (modern fans) have a very small steel pin to hold everything together. I have no idea what they would have used in period for the pin, though.

Saionji-dono, I just put that book on order. Even though most of it is far too late period, I'm looking forward to looking through it.

[Malek]

For those interested, I started a Pinterest board to keep track of all the Heian period fans I find. Most of them are sutra fans, though there are some hiogi, and some reproduction kawahori sensu sprinkled in. pinterest.com/ilianamalek/heian-fans/

I also contacted the curator of the Fan Museum in London, and he suggested that I check out the same book that Saionji-dono mentioned. Hehe!