Remember my post on the Sewing Machine Museum? Similar to that, another quirky museum here is the fan museum. A factor that totally amused me here in London was the absence of ceiling or table fans. Its so rare!!! Its mostly rainy or cold here and in summers it gets a bit warm. So some women carry hand held fold-able fans to cool themselves in those hot summer days! Since long women here have been using fans here and there are specimens ever since Renaissance times available today, which is all here in display!!!
Here are some of the fans in display there:
The below fan is a masterpiece. It depicts the 20th birthday of Dauphin and was made in 1681. Its an extended painting of the fan leaf. Dauphin is the son of Louis XIV of France. The material is vellum (Calf skin). As you can see all the important people are in the fan leaf shape. Later on the floor detailing was extended in the inner section and architecture & nature was extended in the outer section.
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There was also a couple of fans painted by Paul Gauguin. The down one is made in China in 1790. Its an engraved on ivory with 2 layers of painted paper depicting Praya Grande in Macau. Below one is an English/Italian fan of 1780 depicting the Triumph of Aurora painted on double vellum with ivory sticks.
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This is a 1750s fan most probably from France, made of Mother of Pearl & Double Paper, titled the intervention of Sabine Women. The ivory is gilded and has burgo insertions and carved with figures, trophies & flowers.
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This one blew my mind off. Its made of Oriental Pearl Oyster and is engraved, complete with some lace-y hole structures. Below is of a much later era -1906 from France. This was after the invention of printing techniques and this was made with chromolithograph.
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This one is from France made in 1775, made of tortoise shell and double vellum. The detailing & engraving of the shell - isn't that mind blowing! The one below is made in China for export, made in 1840-60. The ivory sticks are stained, engraved and pierced with motifs of flowers, summerhouses & motifs. The double paper leaf depicts dignitaries, elderly people, their servants etc.
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This is the leaf detail of 1890s-1900s Baroness Riedel Fan from France. The lace is Chantilly Bobbin lace and has 4 gauze insertions on which hand painting of amoretti has been done to depict the 4 seasons.
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This is a 1790 carved & pierced ivory fan from China meant for export. This might have been commissioned by HRH Queen Mary of Edinburgh.
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There are also some collectibles here from various countries. It did include one from India, hand embroidered in Piple, Orissa as well.
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Here are the details of some fans. This is a French fan of 1770s, depicting the celebration of marriage, with a man proposing a woman with cupid flying above painted on it. The sticks are engraved, pierced & gilded!
To Get There:
Nearest metro station: Richmond
Entry Ticket: £4 (can be bought at the gate)