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

We are pleased to announce that one of our founder members, Patron and the inspiration behind the Fan Museum in Greenwich, Mrs. Hélène Alexander, has been made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list of 2008. Our heartfelt Congratulations to Hélène and our thanks for all the work she has put in over the years to promote the fan as an important historical and artistic fashion object.

Our current feature fan is a pair of hand screen fans. These date from around 1820-1860. A suprisingly large amount of these types of fans have survived. They were made to shelter a ladies delicate complection from the heat of an indoor fireplace. These examples are made of lacquer, painted and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. However, many examples can also be found covered with embroidery and painting as making items like this at home was seen as productive and "lady-like" in Victorian times.

Visitors since April 2004 This site last updated: 12th July 2009