Virus pushes storied Paris fan museum to brink of folding

France’s storied fan-making museum could fold and vanish due to the effects of the pandemic.

The splendid Musee de l’Eventail in Paris, classed as a historical monument, is the cultural world’s latest coronavirus victim.

It has until January 23 to pay more than 117,000 euros (£103,000) in rent arrears – stemming mainly from losses during lockdowns, otherwise it will close.

The nineteenth century Belle Epoque hall of the fan hand-making museum is pictured in Paris
The 19th century Belle Epoque hall of the hand fan-making museum in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

The studio that teaches design and restoration to a new generation of fan-makers was placed on France’s intangible heritage list last year.

Anne Hoguet, the museum’s 74-year-old director, told the Associated Press: “It is a tragedy. I can’t believe Parisians will let a part of their heritage die.

“I have a problem, because I always believed there would be a miracle.”

Anne Hoguet, 74, fan-maker and director of the hand fan-making museum poses with a feather fan at the museum in Paris
Anne Hoguet, fan-maker and director of the hand fan-making museum, with a feather fan (Michel Euler/AP)

It might be a question of size.

Ms Hoguet said she was “exhausted” by the fight for survival that has hit smaller institutions but spared larger ones, such as Florence’s Uffizi which reopens this week.

A hand fan representing a musical relaxing moment (detente musicale) is pictured at the hand fan-making museum in Paris
A hand fan representing a musical relaxing moment (detente musicale) (Michel Euler/AP)

Bailiffs are even threatening to seize the museum’s artefacts from next Monday, numbering 2,500 original pieces – including historic fans made from turtle shell, lace and silk and adorned with diamonds and rubies.

Like many of Paris’s 130 museums, Ms Hoguet said her institution – which charges just seven euros for entry and is located in the French capital’s popular 10th district – was forced to close for most of 2020 because of government virus restrictions.

On top of that, money coming from the workshop’s fan restorations also evaporated because of the tightening of spending during the pandemic.

Anne Hoguet, 74, fan-maker and director of the hand fan-making museum works in her workshop in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Just like the leaves of its gilded fans, France’s storied hand fan-making museum could fold up and vanish. The splendid Musee de l’Eventail in Paris, a classed historical monument, is the culture world’s latest coronavirus victim
Ms Hoguet in her workshop in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

She said she would previously have charged between 500 and 600 euros per fan to restore them to their original state using traditional materials, and she used the income from that to pay the rent.

Even when the museum briefly reopened last September, Ms Hoguet had trouble getting the same levels of footfall as before.

“Because people were preoccupied with the virus, culture and heritage got forgotten – and dangerously,” she said.

Pictures of three generations of fan makers are seen at the hand fan-making museum in Paris
Pictures of three generations of fan makers at the hand fan-making museum in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

She has trained directly or indirectly five young fan-makers, whom she hopes will carry the torch of the storied craft.

The making of fans, traditionally with wooden sticks and painted paper leaves, has been considered sacred in many ancient cultures.

Anne Hoguet, fan-maker and director of the hand fan-making museum works in her workshop in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Just like the leaves of its gilded fans, France’s storied hand fan-making museum could fold up and vanish. The splendid Musee de l’Eventail in Paris, a classed historical monument, is the culture world’s latest coronavirus victim
Ms Hoguet says she is struggling to sleep due to the museum’s plight (Michel Euler/AP)

The images painted on them would often chronicle the current affairs of the world around them.

To this day, they remain part of France’s fashion heritage DNA, featuring elaborately in couture collections by Chanel, Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Ms Hoguet’s father bought the museum’s impressive collection of fans in 1960.

Anne Hoguet, 74, fan-maker and director of the hand fan-making museum unfolds a mounting fan in her workshop
Ms Hoguet restores fans using traditional materials (Michel Euler/AP)

She is very much an eccentric of the old school.

A staff of one, Ms Hoguet has no cohesive fundraising tool set up other than email, but her efforts to rally support since 2019 have been valiant.

Anne Hoguet, 74, fan maker and director of the hand fan-making museum poses with a wood roasted hand fan representing a falcon hunt, gouache painting g on paper from 1880 at the museum in Paris, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Just like the leaves of its gilded fans, France’s storied hand fan-making museum could fold up and vanish. The splendid Musee de l’Eventail in Paris, a classed historical monument, is the culture world’s latest coronavirus victim
Ms Hoguet with a wood roasted hand fan representing a falcon hunt, gouache painting on paper from 1880 (Michel Euler/AP)

Ms Hoguet had rallied the French Culture Ministry and been in talks with Paris City Hall, but it has made no difference, she said.

“What is the point of marking us out as intangible heritage if they will not protect us?” she asked.

A hand fan representing a learned dog (Chien savant), gouache painting on silk dated from 1775, is displayed at the hand fan-making museum in Paris
A hand fan representing a learned dog (Chien savant), gouache painting on silk dated from 1775 (Michel Euler/AP)

“The problem with savoir-faire, is that it can very quickly die,” Ms Hoguet said.

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