Hatch, Match and Despatch Exhibition @ The Fan Museum

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by Angela Lord (subscribe)

Freelance writer specialising in arts, travel and entertainment news, previews and reviews.

Event: 29/01/2014 - 01/06/2014

Gem of a museum for fans of the delicate art of keeping cool

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If you have a fascination for fans, head over to this intriguing museum in Greenwich, the only one in the country to be devoted entirely to the ancient art and craft of the fan.

From now until 1 June, its temporary exhibition, Hatch, Match and Despatch, looks at the use of fans to mark births, marriages and deaths through the ages.

Spanning a period of over 300 years, from the mid seventeenth century onwards, the exhibition examines how fans were designed to commemorate not only times of national celebration, like royal births and weddings, but occasions of a more sombre nature too.

From lavishly crafted examples forming part of a bride's wedding trousseau, to more modest, mass-produced mementoes with popular appeal, Hatch, Match & Despatch celebrates the most significant landmarks in human experience.

In addition to the temporary exhibition, there is a permanent display featuring items from the museum's collection of over 4,000 fans, assembled over the past 20 years.

The collection brings together examples from all over the world, from the 11th century to the present day, including a wide selection of 18th and 19th century European fans.

The Fan Museum is located at 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ER

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday from 11am-5pm, Sunday from 12-5pm
Senior citizens and disabled - free entry on Tuesday afternoons
Adults £4, children aged 7-16 £3, children under 7 free
Family (2 adults, 2 children) £10
Concessions at £3 are available for students, senior citizens and others – see website for full details. info@thefanmuseum.org.uk