The Fan Museum

The Fan Museum is the only museum in the world devoted entirely to every aspect of fans and fan making.  The Fan Museum is home to a collection of more than 3,500 predominantly antique fans from around the world dating from the 11th century to the present day.

The Museum, which opened in 1991, is housed in two grade II listed houses built in 1721. An orangery decorated with murals has been added to the building. There is also a Japanese-style garden with a fan-shaped parterre, a pond, and a stream.

The oldest fan in the collection dates from the tenth century. However, the collection of 18th and 19th century European fans is especially impressive.

The Museum operates a conservation unit where work is done both for other museums and for the public. New fans are also made at the Museum, and fan-making classes are held. The Fan Museum also has a reference library.

Its collection and fans on loan from other collections are displayed in changing themed exhibitions in which fans are presented in their historical, sociological and economic contexts.   Visitors can enjoy the designs of these unique items which have served many purposes over the centuries:  ceremonial tools, fashionable accessories, status symbols, commemorative presents or advertising giveaways.

The museum possesses the world's most important single collection of fans, fan leaves and related material including many extremely rare and exquisite examples, a selection of which is presented in a new exhibition which can be viewed at The Fan Museum every four months.

Pictorial records of the earliest fans date from around 3000 BC and there is evidence that the Greeks, the Etruscans and Romans all used fans as cooling and ceremonial devices, while Chinese literary sources associate the fan with ancient mythical and historical characters.

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Contact details for the Fan Museum tel: 0208-305 1441 or 0208-293 1889.

Opening times Tuesday - Saturday: 11am - 5pm and Sunday: 12 noon - 5pm. On Tuesdays only there is free admission for OAP and disabled visitors from 2pm.

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