The Fan Museum, which opened in 1991, is the world's first museum dedicated to the preservation and display of hand fans.[1] It is located within two grade II* listed houses that were built in 1721 within the Greenwich World Heritage Site on Croom's Hill in southeast London, England.[2] Along with the museum, there is an orangery decorated with murals, a Japanese-style garden with a fan-shaped parterre, a pond, and a stream.[3]

The Fan Museum
Fan Museum is located in Royal Borough of Greenwich
Fan Museum
Location within Royal Borough of Greenwich
Established1991; 33 years ago (1991)
LocationCroom's Hill, Greenwich
London, SE10
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°28′43″N 0°0′28″W / 51.47861°N 0.00778°W / 51.47861; -0.00778
Public transit accessNational Rail Docklands Light Railway Greenwich
WebsiteOfficial website

Overview edit

The museum owns over 6,000 fans and other fan-related cultural materials as of 2023.[4][5][6] The oldest fan in the collection dates from the 11th century and the collection of 18th and 19th-century European fans is extensive.[7] The entire collection is not displayed permanently due to conservation concerns, but there is a permanent educational display which teaches about fan history, manufacturing processes, and the various forms of fan.[7] Exhibits include a fan with a built-in ear trumpet and one with a repair kit built into the design.[1] Fan-making classes are also held at the Fan Museum.[8] The Fan Museum also contains a reference library.[6]

The Fan Museum is not publicly funded.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Halstead, Robin; Hezaley, Jason (2007). Far from the Sodding Crowd. Penguin books. pp. 67–77. ISBN 978-0-7181-4966-6.
  2. ^ Alexander, Hélène (2001). The Fan Museum. Fan Museum. Lingfield, Surrey, UK: Fan Museum in association with Third Millennium Pub. p. 9. ISBN 0-9540319-1-1. OCLC 50002423.
  3. ^ Sandler, Corey (2001). London : with day trips to Bath, Brighton, Oxford, Windsor, and other popular destinations. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Contemporary Books. p. 157. ISBN 0-8092-2637-5. OCLC 45258691.
  4. ^ Embley, Jochan (18 September 2018). "Everything you should see and do in Greenwich". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  5. ^ "The Fan Museum". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Explore our Collections | The Fan Museum, Greenwich". www.thefanmuseum.org.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Permanent Fan Display | The Fan Museum, Greenwich". www.thefanmuseum.org.uk. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  8. ^ "HRH The Duchess of Cornwall joins fan making class". www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Support Us | The Fan Museum, Greenwich". www.thefanmuseum.org.uk. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

Further reading edit

  • Fans of the Livery: An Exhibition of Fans from the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers. London: The Worshipful Company of Fan Makers. 2016. ISBN 978-1526203717.
  • Alexander, Hélène (2001). The Fan Museum. Lingfield: The Fan Museum, London in association with Third Millennium Publishing. ISBN 0954031911.

External links edit