What do you call this "not quite a feather fan" thingy?

Ostrich feathers are important symbols in Freemasonry. This object is likely a wand used by the chapter’s judicial officer, perhaps something like a gavel, but quieter.


http://www.masonicdictionary.com/truth.html

 

This is another 1920s fraternity item, a customized Whiting & Davis purse. There's an (hard-to-read) ad from the jeweler about customization of items with a fraternity logo. (I didn't do research to identify emblem.) So likely not a favor but a gift.

https://www.etsy.com/dk-en/listing/525580407/vintage-1920s-handbag-whiting-davis

Debora

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Love the idea of a silent hammer!

 

This makes much more sense.

 

Sigma Chi headquarters has a group dedicated to its history. Sure they would be interested in your item.

https://sigmachi.org/history/contact-history/

Debora

 

The emblem has been identified as Sigma Chi, Debora has posted images of a lady holding one similar, and of a ladies purse with another fraternal emblem (Theta Upsilon Omega) in a box from a jeweler that did fraternal emblems - really seems unlikely to have anything to do with Masonic use...

Here is a similar 'single-feather' fan:



https://www.oocities.org/handfans_online/features.htm


~Cheryl

 

Agree. The Sigma Chi emblem is definitive.

Debora

 

Yeah, ok, the brass emblem does match the sorority, so I’m wrong!
Interestingly the motto is the same as that of a destroyer on which I served briefly ca. 1968.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Waldron

 

However, it could have been used in the fashion that spring suggested. Since this is a fraternity and not a sorority.

If someone is on Facebook maybe the OP will give permission to ask over there.

 

me....1st post....

 

From the internet:

"Ostrich feathers were valuable commodities at the beginning of the 20th century, their value per pound almost equal to that of diamonds."

Unlikely that they'd be put to use as a feather duster.

Debora

 

Sorry I missed that, Komo.

 

Thought that was egret feathers, anyway I read somewhere an ostrich feather fan mounted in blonde turtle shell was worth same as a nice « calèche » (fashion horse carriage) in 1900s.

 

So, I'm confused - the frat boys were using a pretty little mesh purse with their emblem for what? As suggested, the fan would have most likely been a gift for a lady related to, or involved with the fraternity member - here's another Whiting & Davis bag with a fraternity emblem (Lambda Chi Alpha): https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-lambda-chi-alpha-fraternity-411110288




A French single-feather fan is included in this lot: http://bid.igavelauctions.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=2386376






Eleanor Roosevelt had a yellow Eisemann single-feather fan: https://books.google.com/books?newb...er+fan#v=snippet&q=single feather fan&f=false





~Cheryl

 

I would think that fraternity emblems would end up on women's accessories for two reasons. Either they were party favors (in which case they'd be inexpensive) or individual gifts (in which case they'd be of greater value.) This old 1946 Burr Patterson catalog includes a section for gifts and favors.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/fraternity-gift-parade-1946-burr-1756641157

Debora

 

You've all added lots of info since my last visit. Thanks!

 

No Problem.........we're good....always !!!!