Trojan War fan among 400 conserved in archive

A 350-year-old fan depicting a pivotal moment from the Greek legend of the Trojan War is part of a collection being cataloged and conserved by experts in Leeds.

Dating back to the 1680s, the folding hand fan is carved from antique ivory, and displays a scene in which the Trojan prince must choose which goddess - Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite - is the most beautiful.

The fan is among 400 items being cared for at Leeds Discovery Centre, with several currently displayed at an exhibition at Lotherton.

Natalie Raw, Leeds Museums and Galleries' curator of costume, said the collection offered a "fascinating insight into how the use of elaborate and beautiful accessories has evolved over the centuries".

"Although today we usually think of fans just being used to help us cool down in the hot weather, in the 18th Century no lady's dress would be complete without one," she said.

"As well as being a beautiful fashion accessory, they were also associated with the idea of flirtation and the imagery painted on them would often signify themes of love and courtship."

The majority of the fans were made in the 18th and 19th centuries, decorated with Greek or Roman mythology, East Asian imagery and other colourful designs.

The archive is predominately made up of fans collected as a hobby by prominent socialites of the day, including Lady Gascoigne of Lotherton and Dorothy Una Ratcliffe who married into the wealthy Brotherton family of West Yorkshire.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's executive member for economy, said the fans were "stunning examples" of fashion and costume that captured the "creativity and imagination of designers through the ages".

"Our whole collection is an incredible archive of millions of years of history and it's wonderful that the people of Leeds are able to visit and be inspired by it," she said.

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