We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGeek

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

What Is the Fan Museum?

By Daphne Mallory
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Known as the first of its kind, the Fan Museum is dedicated to the fan and the art of fan making. Located in a Greenwich World Heritage Site in South East London, the museum allows visitors to view more than 400 fans collected from all over the world, some dating back to the 11th century. Fans are presented in exhibits that put their historical and sociological significance in context for visitors. The museum opened in 1991 and has received awards from the English Tourist Board and the National Art Collections Fund.

Exhibits include the famous Helene Alexander collection as well as a famed Walter Richard Sickert fan made possible through a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Sickert, known to be influenced by tabloid scenes as well as the theatre, painted Victorian and Edwardian scenes. The fan depicts Little Dot Hetherington giving a performance on stage at the Old Bedford Theatre. Created on gouache on vellum and placed on mother-of-pearl sticks and guards, the scene is taken from Sickert's own painting and is carefully replicated on a fan leaf shape.

The Fan Museum boasts a myriad of diverse fans. Included are the Felix Alexandre fans, which were used by the empress of Russia, the queen of the Netherlands, and Queen Victoria of England. Alexandre's fans were created by a team of artists and designers, the first to ever occur in the art of fan making. Also on display is the beautiful "white devils" fan made out of ivory, depicting a European merchant being sent away by an Asian gentleman. A lily pond is also depicted on it, containing carp and goldfish, making it one of the many intriguing fans found at the Fan Museum.

Although most fans aren't viewable due to conservation efforts, visitors can still take part in many workshops. One in particular is the fan-making workshop. Visitors can learn from experts about the history of the fan and the amount of knowledge that goes into the fan-making craft. Classes are also available where visitors will make two distinct styles of fans to take home with them. Bookings must be made in advance. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday. Children under age 7 are admitted free. Entrance is also free for visitors who are London Pass holders. The Fan Museum has a gift shop that includes a wide variety of books, knickknacks, and fans.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.