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Paula Carbonell | Fan Maker
The story of Spanish fan makers Abanicos Carbonell started in 1864, when Arturo Carbonell, the founder, bought an old fan factory dating back to the early 1800, and transformed it into one of the most successful traditional fan makers of Valencia. Five generations later, Paula Carbonell runs the historical business (the oldest one in Spain), aiming for creativity and quality while preserving the traditional craft.
How did you begin?
"You are not born wanting to be a fan maker. This is not a regular occupation or one of those professions that you learn from at school. I studied fashion design, dressmaking and personal shopping, but I grew up in this workshop. All homework, every matter I had to study, I did so from here. This has always been a family business and I’ve grown within its walls. I’ve seen my grandfather, my uncles, my father and mother working here. In the end, my father kept the business and if I didn’t follow, it would’ve eventually come to an end. So, I’ve poured my creative and artistic interests here."
How did you learn?
"Fan making is a craft, and it’s not taught in a traditional way. There used to exist painting workshops; folding the cloth was something that women did at home and taught to their daughters. Now, everything is different. A couple of decades ago there were 100 people dedicated to folding cloth: today, we have around 15 people doing this task for all the makers in the guild. I’ve sought to adapt. I’m self-taught in painting in silk and this year we’ll start with digital design as well."
How do you plan, prepare and create your works?
"The fan making process is complex. There are many types of traditional fans. The first thing is to know what kind you want: functional or decorative, classic or contemporary. Then, the size: fans are not measured in centimetres, but in French inches. In our case, we only work with wood, so our process also includes deciding the species (we use mainly birch and kotibé) and treating the material in a working space we have in the city outskirts where we cut, dry and heal the wood.
"A fan includes different materials: there’s also the metal nail and rosette that put everything together; of course, the cloth, which is mainly cotton and silk in a much smaller percentage. The more delicate labours of carving the wood, adding weaving and decorating the fan, we do here, in the main workshop. One single fan can be passed around by ten pairs of hands to be finished.
"Our workshop and shop are in the same building. We have always been in the centre of Valencia, but in this building specifically, we’ve been since 1939. Currently, we are three people working here every day, between the workshop and the shop."
Who or what most influences your work?
"In the traditional fan world, flowers rule. Floral motifs always work, and you can make them into any approach. For example, I tend to be more modern, colourful and vibrant in my designs. Other subjects that inspire us might be art-piece representations or abstract stains."
What are the best and worst things about being a craftsperson today?
"As the oldest fan making business in Spain, Abanicos Carbonell has recently received a trajectory recognition by the Master Crafts Prize given by the Fortuny Circle in Spain. We are so proud and happy, not only for us but for the entire guild. The most satisfactory thing is to feel that your craft is being appreciated.
"On the other hand, the worst thing about being a craftsperson today is feeling invisible. It’s understandable that we would need to explain our craft to the rest of the world, but here in Valencia, the place where traditional Spanish fans are born, local people have no idea. There isn’t a school, nor fan work is part of the teachings at the Crafts School of Valencia. There’s no incentive for people to pick up this tradition and make sure it’s not lost. That’s specifically regarding fanmaking; I’d say the bad part about any craftworks now is that we compete with imports of different quality and minuscule price."
One more thing...
Your master and your muse?
"My teachers have been every artist that has worked in this very workshop. They were great artisans that started with my grandfather. Fan painters like Agustín Pérez and Paco Benavent; craftspeople like Consuelo Manglano or Ricardo Quiles, who fret sawed and carved the wood. They mastered exceptional skills that it’s impossible to find again. They had irreplaceable hands that inspire us to this day."
Interview by Rebeca Vaisman
Images from Abanicos Carbonell
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