fig. 10 Viennese patent fan, with printed tissue depicting harlequin

fig.12 Argentine publicity fan with a female Pierrot, whereby body and legs form the handle, face and collar frill the "leaf"

Commedia dell'Arte and Fans cont'd

Disguised balls during carnival became popular end 19/beginning 20the century, and the characters of the Commedia dell' arte enjoyed popularity. They were printed on fabrics, like the one of the fan-leaf of a patented Austrian fan (fig.10).

Commedia dell'Arte subjects appear frequently on Publicity Fans, either in the derivative of masquerade and ball scenes, or directly showing characters of the commedia, with a clear preference for the romantic Pierrot, sometimes playing a mandolin, always displaying a dreaming look. The decorative value of such scenes must have been the reason for its popularity, not only in Europe, but also overseas, as can be seen in fig. 11-13.

As decorative ornaments, they are stenciled out of celluloid or painted on it (fig.14).

fig.14 Celluloid fan, with a starry night, harlequin and
colombina sitting on the golden moon

fig.11 Publicity fan from Uruguay with Harlequin and Colombina

fig.13 Italian crepe paper fan, Jenny-Lind-type, with a glued-on publicity for Cinzano showing a mandolin-playing pierrot