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Historic Richmond Town

Object Record


Object Name Fan
Date 1867
Description Brise fan. White painted wood sticks are joined near the top by a white silk ribbon. Sticks are decorated on front with a chromolithographed view of the 1867 Paris Exposition. Riveted at bottom. Made in France.
(Keywords: Fashion, Accessory, Commemorative, European)
Acquisition From Mrs. William Anderson
Ownership and History Souvenir fans in the Historical Society's collection suggest that Staten Islanders had opportunities to travel across the United States as well as to Europe. The idea that fans were special and a bit exotic, combined with their usefulness as cooling devices, made them ideal mementos of trips or major events.

This fan illustrates the Exposition Universelle, the world's fair held in Paris in 1867. It is said to have come from the family of Caleb Lyon (1822-1875), a politician, author, lecturer, and world traveler who spent the last years of his life in Rossville, Staten Island.
Earliest Date 1867
Latest Date 1867
Material Wood
Subjects Exhibition buildings
Fans
Lexicon Sub-category Personal Gear
Associated People Lyon, Caleb
Catalog Number C02.0151
Support Acknowledgment Online Collections Database record made possible by the Fan Association of North America (FANA), 2011. (www.fanassociation.org)
Legal Status Images and text in this database are copyrighted by the Staten Island Historical Society unless otherwise noted. Items represented here are from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society. Materials reproduced for personal non-commercial use must credit the Staten Island Historical Society. Commercial licensing is available.