European Fans

Throughout history, fans have had numerous roles: personal items to cool the user, tools for religious and ceremonial events, symbols of royal power and authority or important fashion accessories. As practical, symbolic and decorative objects, they are the meeting point of multiple arts.

This book focuses on European fans made in the French Rococo style in the 18th century and the Rococo Revival style that emerged in the 19th century. Sixty-six superb examples, selected from the Eurus Collection in South Korea, offer a glimpse into the lives of European royalty and aristocracy, including their aesthetic preferences, ideals and views on nature, and demonstrate the intermingling of cultures in the newly emerging painting and craft styles which resulted from trade between Europe and the East.

This beautifully illustrated book explores the fans’ thematic and stylistic aspects as well as their assembly and production and invites the reader to discover their untold stories.