Galeries Lafayette, Circa 1930, French, Folding, Advertising Fan

The museum of Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) has this paper and wood, French, advertising fan in their collection and write:

This fan promotes the Galeries Lafayette, a Parisian department store established in the 1890s, with the bold slogan, "I buy everything at the Galeries Lafayette." The reverse of the fan sings the praises of two types of stockings: Gina and Rym. The Gina is an "economical dazzling artificial silk stocking, strong and elegant," while Rym is a "natural silk stocking [of] incomparable fineness and quality." The unique shape of this fan, peaked in the middle and shorter on the sides, is called a balloon or fontange shape. Due to it's [sic] popularity throughout the decade, it can help date folding fans to the 1920s.

The fan measures 9.5" in length when closed with an 8" width when open.

****CONDITION: Please note the last photo, which shows a repair to one of the ribs. The wood ribs are delicate and the fan should be handled with care. Also, please note the third through the eighth photos for damage and soiling to the paper on the front and reverse of the fan. Do let me know if you would like more photos as I will be happy to oblige.

Thank you for looking.