Opening on Tuesday 24th July 2007 and running until 2nd December, the new exhibition at The Fan Museum, Greenwich - London, "A Wind of Change," explores a period of immense transformation in Britain's history. The nineteenth century saw Britain reap the rewards of the industrial revolution, as manufacturing and trade swelled the nation's coffers. In a Europe recovering from political upheaval, modern technology combined with a thirst for expansion and improvement, resulted in the development of mechanised processes that breathed new life into ailing industries such as fan making, which had almost disappeared in Britain by the beginning of the nineteenth century.

France was renowned for producing fans of the highest quality, and the couture creations of the top fan makers on display in this exhibition, were coveted by an international audience. Indeed, contemporary advertisements for the Maisons Duvelleroy and Alexandre, in publications such as The Queen magazine are testament to their desirability. However, the development of machine-made products in the nineteenth century and increased trade facilities enabled even those with modest means to purchase a fan that could be both fashionable and affordable. The replacement of hand-coloured engraving with chromolithography meant that the burgeoning middle classes were granted access to imitations of the opulent fans carried by their wealthy neighbours, and the industry flourished as the riches of trade and empire fuelled consumer demand at all levels for new and exciting products.

The Great Exhibition of 1851 celebrated not only the nation's industrial prowess, but also its artistic heritage. The very best of regional crafts were displayed alongside the gleaming machinery of the modern age, and all such objects influenced both public taste and manufacturing. Meanwhile, the rise of the Arts and Crafts movement and the Pre-Raphaelites also influenced the creative output of the nation, as the threat of mechanised production placed an increased value on the work of the individual.

Revealing previously unexplored themes from The Fan Museum's unrivalled collection, “A Wind of Change" presents new perspectives on how political and economic changes influenced technology and the arts, re-invigorating the fan making industry. This exhibition explores the growing confidence of the Victorian era, showing how even the fan was subject to the sweeping transformations of the age.