From Friday 3 November 2023, The Fan Museum ushers in its seasonal exhibition Boxed In, Fanned Out: Fans and Their Boxes.

This exhibition seeks to show the relationship between fans and their boxes with examples coming from many countries and time periods. Whether the boxes are simply holders of fans, or an integral part of the fan itself, ‘Boxed In, Fanned Out’ features outstanding examples from The Fan Museum’s collection including elaborately decorated lacquer boxes from China, handmade paper tubes from eighteenth century Europe and elegant custom-made cases complementing their contents. The exhibition runs from Friday 3 November 2023 to Saturday 23 of March 2024.

Wooden tube and cap, English, c. 1750s Wooden box covered in cream silk, Italian, c. late nineteenth century Cardboard box, French, 2017 Wooden lacquer box lined with red paper and painted silk, Chinese, c. 1850