Welcome to The Hand Fan Museum
Ancient Dutch Flower Fan, demonstrating the Dutch love of flowers including the Tulip, supported by Ivory Sticks, c. 1690-1720
current exhibit
Gardens in Hand
April-july | Exhibit Hours: Friday-Sunday, 12-5pm | Admission Free
A More Modern Fan, French, Bachelor Buttons in a Basket, Basket and guards are reconstituted horn, signed by designer George Bastard, c. 1890-1910
Step into a world where nature unfolds with a flick of the wrist.
Gardens in Hand invites you to explore the delicate artistry of hand fans as miniature landscapes—each one capturing the essence of blooming gardens, winding paths, and seasonal beauty. From intricately painted florals to sculpted forms inspired by leaves and petals, these works transform everyday objects into intimate expressions of nature.
Across cultures and centuries, the hand fan has served not only as a functional accessory but as a canvas for storytelling. In this exhibition, artists reimagine the fan as a portable garden—something to hold, to carry, and to reveal slowly. Every opening becomes an act of discovery.
Visit The Hand Fan Museum In Healdsburg CA
Every society has used a hand fan of some sort. From palm fronds to feathers-from beautifully painted works of art to jewel encrusted, gold plated objects of incredible value. Fans were used in fashion, religion, battle and ceremony. Why there is even a language devoted exclusively to the hand fan! Fans tell the stories and histories of the cultures and individuals who used them. Art, culture, geography and history - all in the palm of your hand.
The purpose of the Hand Fan Museum is to provide educational and cultural enrichment to the public by utilizing the hand fan as a vehicle for teaching history, art and geography, via publications, lectures and the establishment of a museum where actual hand fans from around the world will be exhibited. The Hand Fan Museum brings cultural and artistic history from around the world to Northern California. The museum is a jewel box-small in size but not in purpose. It is the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to hand fans and displays a permanent collection, as well as a rotating exhibit, that tell, often in beguiling detail, the stories of the cultures and individuals who used them. This endeavor is intended to be both educational and fun - bringing enjoyment to participants of all ages.
