Unfolding Pictures: Fans in the Royal Collection - Tapa dura

The Royal Collection of fans is unique. Nearly all the fans were created for or presented to their original royal owners, and have an unbroken provenance almost without precedent in the history of fan collecting. This illustrated book presents the most beautiful, important and historically interesting fans, together with the stories of their creation and acquisition, and biographical information on their owners.
The fans in the collection range from a 17th-century lace-cut leather fan, said to have belonged to Charles I, to three fans made in the workshops of Carl Faberge. There are examples in every material conceivable, from paper and lace to ivory, mother-of-pearl, jay and ostrich feathers, enamel and precious stones, and of every type - from the purely decorative to the topographical, from commemorative fans to tiny miniatures and intimate personal gifts.
A general introduction provides background information on the history of fans and this collection in particular, while detailed descriptions and specially commissioned colour photography highlight aspects of design and manufacture. Archive and contextual paintings, drawings, prints and photographs supplement the historical background, while a further important feature of the book is the full description of each fan, giving complete provenance and technical details (following scientific examination), together with a glossary of specialist terms, bibliography, and index.