"Many eighteenth-century fans had 'peep-holes', through which a lady could observe the object of her flirtation. Fans could cover a lack of conversation, according to M. de Saussure who visited England in the 1720s and found that 'the main conversation is the flutter of fans'. They also had certain ceremonial functions at the French court, where it was customary for ladies to present gifts to the queen, held on an open fan." "Fans", by Avril Hart and Emma Taylor, pp. 29, 30
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