Collapsing patriotic cigar fan with flag motif, made in Japan for the American market from crepe paper and cardboard during the 1905 – 1920’s era. These little flags were probably sold or handed out by politicians at political rallies and otherwise patriotic events. They come in a variety of styles, among which this is example is medium to small in size.
One specifically identified function for some of them was as a Crackerjack toy. One of these little fans appears in a 1909 promotional poster released to advertise Crackerjack with various premiums.
Mounting: The fan has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was then placed in a modern black molding with red undertones and highlights. A shadow box was created to keep the object away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass.
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