Fans of Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928)
For many centuries, fans remained a must-have item for ladies, particularly empresses, queens, grand duchesses and princesses. The more noble the lady was, the more interesting and elegant her fans. One of the most remarkable examples of late 19th and early 20th century fans, comes from the collection of Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928), wife of Emperor Alexander III and mother of Emperor Nicholas II. She is often depicted in formal portraits of the late 19th to early 20th centuries, holding one of her beautiful fans.
I am pleased to present the following fans of Empress Maria Feodorovna, from the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. They are but a mere sampling of her extensive collection, found in numerous museums in Russia.
