GLOSSARY

Glossary

BRISE’ FAN - a fan made entirely of sticks which broaden towards the top edge and are held together with ribbon or string.

COCKADE FAN - a fan opening out into a complete circle with guards forming a double handle. This fan can be both folding or brise’.

CELLULOID - an early 20th century forerunner of modern plastics.

FIXED FAN- a type of fan that has a flat surface attached to a single handle. This fan is also called a Hand Screen.

FONTANGE FAN - a shape of a folding or brise’ fan that is shell shaped, with the center longer than the guards.

FOLDING FAN - a fan with a flexible pleated leaf mounted on sticks.

GUARD STICKS - the front and back outer sticks that show when the fan is closed and are usually more embellished than the sticks.

JENNY LIND FAN - a brise’ fan with fabric cut like feathers or petals and mounted on sticks. This style fan became fashionable during the popularity of the vocalist Jenny Lind.

LEAF - the main body folding fan usually made of paper, fabric, lace or skin. It can be either single or double sided and is either sewn or glued to the ribs. This is sometimes called the mount.

LOOP - a small half round of metal or other material that is attached to the rivet. Loops are common in 19th century fans.

RIBS - the narrow upper part of the sticks to which a leaf is attached. They are sometimes called slips.

RIVET - a double headed pin that runs through the end of the sticks and guards in both folding and brise’ fans to anchor sticks. Some rivets have jewels.

STICKS - the framework of folding and brise’ fans.

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