Souvenir paper fan, commemorating a gala evening at Covent Garden

This object is a folding souvenir paper fan produced by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The guards are covered in metallic silver paper, and the fan is fitted with a red thread tassel at the base. When closed, it forms a tapered shape showing the silver outer surface.

When fully opened, one side presents the title of the evening, 'Fanfare', along with lists of the artists and production credits printed in black on a white ground, bordered at the upper edge by flags of the European Community. The reverse side features the evening's programme, printed in white against a purple background. The fan was printed in Great Britain by Westerham Press using techniques of printing, cutting, and folding. The materials recorded are paper, silver paper, printing ink, and thread. It dates to 1972 and measures 27.5 cm in height when closed, with a maximum closed width of 7 cm at the top and a closed depth of approximately 1 cm. When opened, it reaches an approximate width of 35 cm.