Folding fan with double leaf of green dyed paper on an unadorned wooden mount

Folding fan with double leaf of green painted paper on an unadorned wooden mount. 24 connected ribs. In addition to this example, there are a number of these simple fans with a leaf of plain green paper in the Van Eeghen collection (now at the KOG). Although several examples have survived and one might conclude from this that these fans were used quite generally, almost nothing is known about their origin or use. There is only one mention of this specific type of fan known and found in an advertisement in the Amsterdamsche Courant of July 31, 1798, in which a certain Pierre Felgines states that he has established himself independently and 'Makes, sells, exchanges and repairs all kinds of umbrellas, parasols and green fans...'.