News
The Duchess of Cornwall visits The Fan Museum in Greenwich, south-east London
20th October 2009
The Duchess of Cornwall viewed an exhibition of military-themed fans during a visit to The Fan Museum in Greenwich, south-east London.
Her Royal Highness, who was visiting in her capacity as the museum’s patron, was shown a prototype of a guardsman fan which forms part of “Fans: War and Peace”, an exhibition of around 170 fans from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries.
The display - made possible through the Entente Cordiale, which exists between The Fan Museum and Le Cercle de l’Éventail - encompasses a history of the world seen through objects too long regarded as frivolous accessories to dress. As such it presents many rare, fascinating and resonant items whose design, imagery and provenance will provide visitors with important new insights into the depiction of warfare throughout the ages.
After touring the exhibition,
The Duchess was given the opportunity to handle a number of items, including an 18th century (circa 1727-1728) English fan showing Alexander the Great and the family of Darius.
Her Royal Highness afterwards attended a reception for guests including lenders, trustees, friends and supporters of the Fan Museum and civic dignitaries.
Hélène Alexander MBE, Museum Director and Curator, said: “It’s been a most memorable evening for The Fan Museum and for all of us working here and a great honour that The Duchess of Cornwall has taken so much interest in our current exhibition”.
The Fan Museum opened its doors to the public in 1991. It is administered by a charitable trust (The Fan Museum Trust) and is located in two town houses (1721) in the heart of the UNESCO designated World Heritage Site in Greenwich.
The first of its kind, and to this day the only registered museum in the world entirely dedicated entirely to the art and craft of fan-making and to the history of fans, The Fan Museum has always been innovative in presenting, researching and sharing with a wider audience the result of a lifetime passion for this delicate artefact.
The museum is the brainchild of its Director and Curator, Hélène Alexander MBE, who has studied and collected fans for more than forty years. In 1991, Mrs. Alexander and her late husband set up The Fan Museum to share with a wider public her passion for this cooling device, which has also been status symbol, fashion accessory, or advertising give-away. Collections held by The Fan Museum now include over 4,000 fans and fan leaves from all over the world, spanning over nine centuries. These collections, in addition to fans lent from other museums and private collectors, are displayed in changing exhibitions which concentrate on a particular theme, country or period.
At the rear of the two houses, the elegant Orangery has an enchanting, peaceful atmosphere and is decorated with hand painted murals; it overlooks a Japanese style garden with a pond, bridge and goldfish. The museum has been described as “an oasis of tranquillity” and as “an artistic and architectural gem”.
“Fans: War & Peace” runs until 28th February 2010.