The Fan Museum

Housed in two restored Georgian townhouses in Greenwich, London, The Fan Museum is dedicated entirely to the history, artistry and craft of the hand fan. Opened in 1991, it brings together more than 7,000 objects spanning over a thousand years of fan history, from delicate European folding fans to Japanese court fans and elaborate decorative designs. The collection includes a rare Elizabethan fan, a jewelled Fabergé fan and fan-related works by artists such as Paul Gauguin. Displays explore how fans have served as fashion accessories, works of art and tools of social communication. The museum also hosts changing exhibitions and fan-making workshops, celebrating a small object with a surprisingly rich cultural history.