The Fan Museum

Welcome to Greenwich and to one of London’s most specialized and charming institutions, The Fan Museum. Nestled within two exquisitely restored Grade Two listed Georgian townhouses dating back to 1730, this museum is the first of…

As we move into the first of the permanent display areas, we are presented with a chronological journey through the development of the fan. While we often associate the folding fan with European court life, its origins are deeply…

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of fan-making, a process that historically involved a highly specialized division of labor. A single fan could be the work of several different craftsmen: the stick-maker, the…

Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of fan history is the 'Language of the Fan.' While much of this was a nineteenth-century marketing invention by fan manufacturers like Duvelleroy, the idea that a lady could communicate…

We now move towards the rear of the museum to visit one of its most beautiful features: the Orangery. This sun-drenched room, with its large windows overlooking a secret garden, provides a wonderful contrast to the darkened…

The Fan Museum is not a static institution; it prides itself on a rotating program of temporary exhibitions that explore specific themes in greater depth. These exhibitions often draw on the museum's vast reserve collection or…

Our final stop within the galleries focuses on the 'behind-the-scenes' work of the museum: conservation and research. The objects on display are incredibly fragile, susceptible to damage from light, humidity, and handling. …

As we conclude our tour of The Fan Museum, we step back out onto the streets of Greenwich, hopefully with a newfound appreciation for an object we might previously have taken for granted. We have seen how the fan is much more…