Musee de l’Eventail Fan Museum in Paris
The Musee de l’Eventail is the very first museum in France to be dedicated to fans, which comprises more than 2000 different pieces along with tools used to actually make fans, whether it be for shows or as an accessory.
A bit of history
It was back in 1872 that Joseph Hoguet created a workshop in Oise to produce elegant fans made with all kinds of different materials including lace, mother of pearl, etc and although the need for fans diminished greatly over the years, the family business still kept on running.
It was then in 1960 that Herve Hoguet purchased one of the most prestigious 19th century houses of fans that was originally founded back in 1805, which is where you will find the Atelier Ann Hoguet today.
And in fact, a daughter of Herve, called Anne Hoguet has taken over the family business and this is where she used to restore old fans to their former glory, yet now trains students in the art of making fans and restoration.
Plus the business still continues to thrive by making fans for many of the theatres and operas in Paris, along with accessories for films and the haute couture fashion houses of names such as Nina Ricci, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and many more.
She is also the only person in France to continue this tradition as a family business of making new creations, and also founded the Musee de l’Eventail Fan Museum where she continues to enrich the permanent collection, along with hosting temporary exhibitions.
About the Musee de l’Eventail Museum in Paris
The fan museum in Paris was founded in 1993 and being the very first museum in France dedicated to fans, it is located in the old fan showroom that was created by the fan makers Lepault and Deberghe back in 1893.
This particular room itself has been preserved in the original King Henry II style with its fireplace, walnut cabinets, walls covered with embroidered blue cloth and an ornate ceiling with beautiful chandeliers, which is the perfect accompaniment to a collection of the Hoguet fans on display.
The second area is where you will find the technical design aspect of a fan mount from the raw materials used through to the workbenches and tools that are required to even produce a fan. Then there is a third room, which is dedicated to dressing the frame or fan, whether it be using silks or paper, painting, lace, feathers, embroidery, etc.
Incredibly, the Musee de l’Eventail museum has more than 2, 500 different pieces that date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, which makes this an incredibly rich collection of fans, and as we mentioned earlier, is a completely unique museum, not just in Paris, but also in France.
Yet this also means that the pieces can be displayed at different times and on specific themes, so if you are on holiday in Paris from one year to the next, you can see a completely different collection each time, plus there are also other temporary exhibitions held at the Fan Museum as well.
Visiting the Musee de l’Eventail Fan Museum
You will find that the fan museum is open on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 2pm through to 6pm, but is closed on all other days. This museum in Paris is also closed on National French holidays and during the month of August.
As of 2016, the cost of entry to the Musee de l’Eventail is €6 per individual, however, children between the ages of 8 and 12 get a reduced rate of only €3 and those under the age of 8 have free entry.
For students of the European Union up to the age of 26 with proof, there is a discounted rate of €4 per individual, and the same cost applies to people who are registered as a friend of The Louvre museum. Groups are also welcome, however, these do have to be booked in advance.
Access to the Musee de l'Eventail
Located in the 10th Arrondissement of Paris, when it comes to public transport in Paris it is only a very short walk from the Metro station called the Strasbourg - Saint-Denis stop serving lines 4, 8 and 9.
Alternatively, further to the south you have the Reaumur - Sebastopol stop serving lines 3 and 4, to the north is the Chateau d'Eau stop serving line 4 or to the east of the Atelier Anne Hoguet and the Musee de l'Eventail you have the Republique stop serving lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11.
In addition to these options, the bus lines 20, 38, 39, 47, 56, 65 and 75 along with the Noctilien Night Bus Service via lines N01, N12, N13, N14 and N23 will also get you within walking distance of this and other tourist attractions in the area along with several theatres.
