European Fans

Throughout their history, hand fans were used not only as tools for everyday life but also as status symbols, religious ritual artifacts, fashion items, and even devices for discreet communication. The richness of symbolic and aesthetic aspects of fans is that of sophisticated and comprehensive artworks. European Fans explores the thematic, stylistic, as well as production aspects of 60 carefully selected European 18th to 20th century fans from Eurus Collection. Along with its beautiful fan illustrations, the book invites the reader to discover their untold stories.

Eurus Collection, under the direction of Hahn Eura Eunkyung, is a sister institution of Hwajeong Museum in Seoul. With more than one thousand fans from all over the world, Eurus Collection is the largest of its kind in Asia. By engaging in various research, exhibition, and publication projects, the collection strives to raise public awareness of the value of fans.