FCI - Fans, Fun and Friendship. The Fan Circle International is a charitable society established in 1975 to promote interest in and knowledge of the fan in all aspects. In 1982 it was granted charitable status. Membership of the circle is worldwide with the majority of members in the USA, Europe and Australia.

Have a look at our web pages to learn something about the history of fans, how they are made or even how to start collecting them.

Even better - join the Fan Circle International and join with a group of like minded people with an interest in fans, costume, lace, ivory and other related topics. Enjoy the company and fellowship at our regular meetings and AGMs. You do not have to collect fans to be a member - just share an interest in these beautiful and fasctinating objects

Our current feature fan is a Chinese fan made c1850-60 for export to the west. The sticks are made of lacqured bamboo and insert with strips of coloured silk which is then painted in various designs. When held up to the light you can see that the silk strips are held on the fan by being wedged between the lacquer sticks allowing the light to pass through the silk. These are one of the more uncommon types of Chinese export brise fans and you do not see examples of this style after c1900.

Visitors since April 2004 This site last updated: 9th August 2010