brisé

folding fan

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "brisé" refers to a specific type of folding fan. Unlike a traditional folding fan where the leaf is pleated, a brisé fan is constructed from wider, bladelike sticks. These sticks are connected at the top by a ribbon or thread, allowing them to overlap when the fan is opened, forming the equivalent of a leaf.1

This design is a variant of the folding fan, which has been used for cooling, air circulation, ceremonies, and as an accessory for centuries across the globe. While the search results mention "brise-bise" as a type of curtain, the context of "brisé" in relation to fans points to this unique construction method.12

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fan
…the folding fan is the brisé (French: “broken”) fan, in which the sticks are wider and bladelike and connected at the top by a ribbon or thread, so that they will overlap when the fan is opened to form the equivalent of a leaf.
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…the folding fan is the brisé (French: “broken”) fan, in which the sticks are wider and bladelike and connected at the top by a ribbon or thread, so that they will overlap when the fan is opened to form the equivalent of a leaf.
Read More