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29.02.2012 - 03.06.2012
An exhibition that examines the development of synthetic materials and their subsequent application to the art and craft of fan-making….
From utilitarian tableware and contemporary clothing, through to avant-garde sculpture and information technology, plastics have, during the last 100 years, ruthlessly usurped natural materials, coming to define consumer culture in the modern era. Why! One can even read Dickens on a plastic tablet.
Such transformations, however, do not happen overnight, and this exhibition charts the rise of man-made materials such as celluloid and their application to the manufacture of fans.
Beginning with 'nature's own' thermo-plastics, tortoiseshell and horn (traditionally used to craft fans of considerable artistry and expense), the exhibition also examines the first experimental forays of the late 19th century, when scientists sought to create polymers that aped the properties of prestige natural materials. Today, even the most perceptive of gazes can be deceived by fine-quality imitation tortoiseshell.
Also featured with the exhibition are a number of pocket-size mechanical fans and accompanying patents (dating from the first half of the 20th century). These functional yet wholly innovative ‘air-agitating’ devices demonstrate that even the ancient craft of fan-making – virtually unchanged since the 17th century – couldn’t escape the ceaseless drive to modernize and streamline the design and production of all manner of consumer goods.
ALEXANDRE: FAN MAKER TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE
22 November 2011 - 26 February 2012
AIR A LA MODE
SYLVAIN LE GUEN, CONTEMPORARY FAN DESIGNER
02 August - 13 November 2011
EVERYDAY LIFE ON THE LEAF OF A FAN
01 March 2011 - 27 July 2011
LOVE IN A MIST
02 November 2010 - 02 February 2011
OH! I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE
06 July 2010 - 31 October 2010
THE MUSIC OF THE FANS
04 March 2010 - 04 July 2010
FANS: WAR & PEACE
08 October 2009 - 28 February 2010
DIRECTOR'S CHOICE
23 June 2009 - 04 October 2009
SLEEPING BEAUTIES: FANS FROM CASTLE FRIEDENSTEIN, GOTHA
04 November 2008 - 11 January 2009
FASHION IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
06 June 2008 - 26 October 2008
A TOUCH OF DUTCH: FANS FROM THE ROYAL HOUSE OF ORANGE-NASSAU
29 February 2008 - 28 May 2008
CELEBRATIONS
04 December 2007 - 22 February 2008
A WIND OF CHANGE: FANS FROM THE VICTORIAN ERA
24 July 2007 - 25 November 2007
FANNING THE SENSES
13 March 2007 - 01 July 2007
TOP FANS
28 November 2006 - 28 February 2007
CHINOISERIE FANS
22 August 2006 - 26 November 2006
COME TO THE BALL: POSY HOLDERS AND PRETTY FANS
28 March 2006 - 20 August 2006
NELSON'S "FANS"
01 July 2005 - 06 November 2005
THE CASE OF THE FAN: AN EXHIBITION OF FANS WITH THEIR BOXES
25 January 2005 - 26 June 2005
A GARDEN OF FANS
11 May 2004 - 19 September 2004
ANCIENT MYTHS AND LEGENDS
06 January 2004 - 09 May 2004
AN AMERICAN COLLECTION: GIFTED TO THE FAN MUSEUM
24 September 2003 - 04 January 2004
A FANFARE FOR THE SUN KING
04 June 2003 - 21 September 2003
CONTEMPORARY FANS: A LOAN EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE FAN CIRCLE INTERNATIONAL
04 February 2003 - 01 June 2003
LACE FANS FOR LADIES: AN EXHIBITION OF LACE FANS
13 August 2002 - 29 December 2002
ROYAL FANS
5 March 2002 - 7 July 2002
EURO ELEGANCE: FANS OF 18TH CENTURY EUROPE
27 November 2001 - 3 March 2002
MASTERPIECES: AN EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAN MUSEUM
26 June 2001 - 20 November 2001
FROM THE LAND OF THE FAN
8 March 2001 - 24 June 2001
ART NOUVEAU FANS
9 December 2000 - 4 March 2001
THE JEWEL AND THE FAN
5 September 2000 - 3 December 2000
SEA BREEZES
25 April 2000 - 27 August 2000
COMMEMORATIVE FANS
21 December 1999 - 23 April 2000
MATCH THE FAN
25 August 1999 - 19 December 1999
ADVERTISING FANS
28 March 1999 - 25 July 1999
PERSONAL TREASURES OF THE TSARS
20 November 1998 - 20 March 1999
FLOWERS THAT BLOOM ON THE FANS (TRA' LA)
9 June 1998 - 8 November 1998
POETRY ON THE BREEZE: AN EXHIBITION OF CHINESE-MADE FANS AND FAN LEAVES
23 February 1998 - 7 June 1998
IMPERIAL FANS FROM THE HERMITAGE
17 October 1997 - 15 February 1998
FANS FROM FAR AWAY LANDS: AN EXHIBITION OF ETHNIC FANS
1 July 1997 - 10 October 1997
ADAM & EVE AND FANS: AN EXHIBITION OF BIBLICAL FANS
11 March 1997 - 29 June 1997
THEATRICAL FANS
5 November 1996 - 9 March 1997
NOW AND THEN
4 June 1996 - 3 November 1996
ANIMAL FANS
23 January 1996 - 2 June 1996
DUVELLEROY - KING OF FANS, FAN MAKER TO KINGS
3 October 1995 - 21 January 1996
COLLECTOR'S CHOICE: AN EXHIBITION TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAN CIRCLE INTERNATIONAL
16 May 1995 - 1 October 1995
UNFOLDING BEAUTY - A SECRET COLLECTION: AN EXHIBITION LOANED BY THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FAN MAKERS
24 January 1995 - 14 May 1995
FANS ON THE GRAND TOUR
19 July 1994 - 22 January 1995
A FLUTTER OF LACE: AN EXHIBITION OF LACE FANS
22 March 1994 - 16 July 1994
FANS AND THE CHINA TRADE
4 October 1993 -13 March 1994
HATCH, MATCH AND DESPATCH
13 October 1992 - 21 March 1993
FINE FEATHERS MAKE FINE FANS
9 June 1992 - 1 October 1992
HOMAGE TO THE DONOR
17 January 1992 - 7 June 1992
FANS OF THE FOUR SEASONS: AN EXHIBITION OF JAPANESE FANS AND FAN-RELATED MATERIAL
27 September 1991 - 15 January 1992
CHILDREN IN FANS
5 May 1991 - 24 September 1991
