Consort Event
28th April 2025Fan Museum
Carolyn organised a wonderful Consort's event at the Fan Museum in Greenwich. A small, attractive museum close to the Cutty Sark, it provides a very interesting and easily digestible tour of the world of fans, followed by a very nice cream tea in the Orangery.
Based in Greenwich, it also provides a wonderful excuse to take the river boat from Bankside to Greenwich Pier, which is always more pleasant than taking the overground/underground. Carolyn, myself, IPM Elise Rasmussen, the Fuellers' Consort Lily and various friends met up on the boat, had some lunch once we landed at the Pier and then joined other members and guests of the Company at the Museum.
In the end we had 24 attendees, who were split into two groups to go around with guides, who provided a very interesting commentary on the development and history of fans and fanmaking. A private collection, the museum has over 4000 artefacts and therefore cannot possibly display everything it owns! Themed displays are therefore changed every 4 months or so, providing ample reasons for return visits.
Ours was based around theatrical events and personalities, with fans belonging to the likes of Lillie Langtry and Jenny Lind (the Swedish Nightingale). There were also some fans disguised as cigars - maybe we should get some modern ones made by the Fan Makers' Company?
Well worth a return visit in due course!