Fondazione dell’Albero d’Oro
Palazzo Vendramin Grimani
San Polo, 2033
30125, Venice
T +39 041 8727 750
info@fondazionealberodoro.org
C.F. 94096710275
PEC fondazionealberodoro@legalmail.it
News
Arrival of a new fan
A refined folding fan composed of a mother-of-pearl frame and floral motif bordered with lace from the end of the 18th century has been added to the fans collection at Palazzo Vendramin Grimani.
This new addition heralds the beginning of the enrichment of the Fondazione dell'Albero d'Oro's collection, which already include almost 90 models of different sizes, materials, periods and origins.
The fan collection at Palazzo Vendramin Grimani
Sometimes art object, sometimes carrier of secret messages, the fan has for centuries been a source of considerable fascination for collectors in its countless forms and functions.
For this reason, Fondazione dell'Albero d'Oro pays homage to the spirit of collezionismo by permanently dedicating a space in the historic residence on the Grand Canal to hand fans, thanks to the acquisition of a private collection.
Fondazione dell'Albero d'Oro's fan collection comprises a corpus of more than 400 Western and Eastern examples of different sizes, periods (from the 18th to the 20th century) and materials belonging to a Venetian collection.
The variety of the collection in terms of techniques, materials and periods allows visitors to discover an artistic and handmade universe unknown to most people.
Composition of a traditional fan
The page
There are many different sizes of fans in the world, but the most common type in the European market is still the fan consisting of an frame and page.
The page is usually made of parchment, paper, silk, taffeta, organza, acetate, satin, lace, or feathers.
Some examples of pages:
The shape
In order to meet different needs and functions, fans come in a myriad of shapes: plié, brisé, cabriolet, vent, rosette fan, or even feather fan.
A few examples:
Frame
Traditionally, the tabletier - the craftsman who creates the fans - may use a variety of materials to make the slats and frame of the fan. Some of these can be wood, mother-of-pearl, tortoiseshell, ivory, horn or bone.
Some examples of frames:
