Object of the Month

The "Object of the Month" initiative aims to showcase some of the treasures of the Museum of Vila do Conde in an unexpected setting, sparking curiosity and encouraging visitors to discover the Museum's collections. Every month, different objects and documents from the Museum's collections are displayed at the Town Hall.

For the month of July, the Museum of Vila do Conde has selected a Brussels needle lace fan from the collection of the Bobbin Lace Museum.

There is no precise date or place of origin for the fan, which probably began as simple leaves or feathers used for cooling. Depictions of fans can be found in Egypt as early as 3000 BC, and their use was also widespread in ancient China, Greece, Etruria and Rome.

Throughout history, fans have served many purposes: cooling, keeping insects away, providing shade, concealing the face, being used in religious rituals, and even acting as symbols of status, seduction and nobility. In Europe, the eighteenth century marked the height of the fan's popularity. During the nineteenth century, lace fans became particularly fashionable, especially those produced in Belgium, with Brussels gaining renown for the exceptional quality of its lace.

These fans were widely used at weddings and balls and often featured lace styles such as Duchesse lace, named after Maria Henriette of Austria, Queen of Belgium, who greatly admired and promoted the local lace industry.

Today, the fan is primarily appreciated as a decorative object, a collector's item or an elegant accessory.

The piece can be viewed at the Town Hall of Vila do Conde, from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.