Fan — Autographed wooden fan, belonging to John Gielgud, Great Britain, pre 1881

Fan in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number S.1224-1984), made in Great Britain, dated pre 1881. The museum's brief description reads: Wooden fan, the sticks autographed by actors and actresses, late 19th-mid 20th century, including Ellen Terry, Henry Irving, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans, Sybil Thorndike, Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies and Irene Worth, belonging to John Gielgud. Probably originally…. Museum description: Wooden fan, of overlapping sticks held together by ribbon, with individual sticks autographed and dated in ink by actors and actresses, from right, Ellen Terry, March 1882; Henry Irving, March 1883; Herbert Beerbohm Tree, 1890; Réjane, November [?] 1897; C. Coquelin, July 1898; John Gielgud, June 1956; Peggy Ashcroft, June 1956; Edith Evans, June 1956; Sybil Thorndike, June 1956; Lewis Casson, June1956; Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, June 1956; and Irene Worth, 18 September 1967. The museum records it as Wood, metal and ribbon, autographed in ink, measuring Height 28.5 cm; Width 4 cm; Depth 3.5 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.