Paris’ Musee de l’Eventail, home of exquisite vintage fans, could fall prey to pandemic without rent help

Like small businesses, small museums and other cultural institutions are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic’s economic impact.

In Paris, one particular rare gem of a museum, the Musee de l’Eventail, is in danger of closing — and the United Nations wants France to step in and help preserve it.

Anne Hoguet, 74, fan-maker and director of the hand fan-making museum poses with a feather fan at the museum in Paris on Wednesday. (Michel Euler/)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has classified it as a historic monument, but the facility still must pay rent - $142,000 worth accumulated since it was forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

UNESCO is particularly concerned with its studio, where museum director Anne Hoguet teaches design and restoration to a new generation of fan-makers, and which has been on France’s intangible heritage list since last year.

The nineteenth century "Belle Epoque" hall of the fan hand-making museum is pictured in Paris on Wednesday. (Michel Euler/)

“It is a tragedy. I can’t believe Parisians will let a part of their heritage die,” Hoguet, 74, told AP. “I have a problem, because I always believed there would be a miracle.”

But barring a miracle, there’s even a chance that bailiffs could seize the museum’s 2,500 original pieces — including historic fans made from turtle shell, lace and silk and adorned with diamonds and rubies — starting next Monday, the AP said.

A hand fan representing a musical relaxing moment (detente musicale) is pictured at the hand fan-making museum in Paris on Wednesday. (Michel Euler/)

There are 130 museums in the City of Light, and most have struggled at one time or another. But without external help, the coronavirus pandemic could be a death knell, Hoguet said.