The State Hermitage Museum: Information

Chinese Export Fans from the In brevi series of booklets
A booklet by M. L. Menshikova entitled

The Hermitage has developed a program called In brevi, which is directed at readers of all ages who have the most diverse interests. In 2004 the State Hermitage Publishing House issued 5 illustrated books and brochures in this educational series.

The Latin term In brevi may be translated as "briefly" and books in this series attempt to provide brief information about what is most important: about the most significant monuments in temporary exhibitions or permanent displays of the State Hermitage. These bright and attractive looking brochures are as a rule written by curators of the museum collections and can serve not only as a reliable reference work but also as a pleasant souvenir of a visit to one of the world’s largest museums.

The author of the booklet Chinese Export Fans is Maria Menshikova, a researcher in the Oriental Department of the State Hermitage. Her publication is devoted to the history of this refined accessory in Europe and Russia. Oriental fans appeared in Europe no later than the 1550’s, after the foundation of the first East India companies whose ships brought to Europe amazing things from distant and exotic lands. The unusual oriental articles found an early application in Venice, where women began to use folding fans during the Carnival season. The author tells us about fans which Chinese masters produced in the 18th century especially for Europe, taking into account European tastes. She also provides information about the fans made in Europe and Russia in the then fashionable “Chinese style”. Among the many illustrations one can find depictions of display fans made of ivory, tortoise shell, silver filigree, and hardened sap of the lacquer tree; decorations included down, feathers and silk. Several of the fans shown here come from the collections of Russian empresses.

Chinese Export Fans
A booklet by M. L. Menshikova entitled