Mid 20th Century Patriotic Folding Fan With American Flag Motif

Description

Presented is a patriotic folding paper fan, with an American flag motif. The fan is painted with two small American … more Presented is a patriotic folding paper fan, with an American flag motif. The fan is painted with two small American flags at left and right and two larger crossed American flags at center. The star count of the two crossed larger fans differ between 46 and 48 stars, suggesting this fan was made sometime in the early to mid 20th century.

From the beginning of the 19th Century, fans commemorated national events, such as centennials, statehoods, inaugurations, or the birthdays of public figures. Americans who had imported European fans from the late 1600s to the mid-1800s, joined the fan-making fray soon after the Civil War and made-in-America fans began to acquire a following by 1867. Concurrently, advances in 19th Century printing technology brought the elaborately-designed, gilded, and illustrated fans within reach of the masses. Lithographed and printed fans imitated hand-drawn and hand-painted versions of earlier eras. Advertising fans also became popular promotional gimmicks that peaked at the turn of the century. These fans remained popular until the 1940s.

CONDITION:
Hand-painted folding paper fan. Some creasing to paint along fold lines.The edges of the fan’s leaves are painted light green, now faded. Painted on only one side. Fan Dimensions: 3 5/16" H x 16" W (leaves), 8 9/16" H (guard).

Fan is archivally presented, mounted on acid-free brown fabric, in a custom beaded wooden frame, with UV glass and a gold metal engraved plaque.

Framed Dimensions: 13.75" H x 19.75" W x 2.5" D less