My mother sent me a broken-down hand fan that once belonged to my grandmother. It was beyond repair, but it was bone and covered with amazing hand carving and detail, it needed to be turned in to something. Petite, delicate bone folders resulted. Since that first wrecked fan, I’ve found others to recycle.

These small folders are made from any old hand fan I can get my hands on. They are small, thin folders good for delicate work. Probably made from cow bone.

This folder is about 4.5” long, and 3/8” at its widest. This folder was made from the outer rib of a fan, so it has a little more thickness to it than the interior ribs. In one end there is a hole, the other has been tapered to a slight angle, good for gentle scraping or lifting. There is subtle engraving on the spatula end.