At the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, our collections never stop surprising us. Among the St John family archive from Lydiard House (Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire) is this charming 19th‑century greeting card — beautifully crafted in the shape of a fan.

Fan in previous paper enclosure

Previously stored loosely within a paper enclosure and envelope, it was decided that such a delicate object needed to be re-housed in a more secure box, using archival materials. As a result, a bespoke box was created using corrugated board for the base and lid. Two layers of plastazote were also used – one to line the base and a second piece cut to size for the fan to sit in. Finally, a strip of melinex was attached around the plastazote and across the handle of the fan to prevent any movement.

Finished box

However, what began as a straightforward task in the Archive Conservation lab quickly turned into a deeper investigation under a microscope to try and determine the material and construction of the fan.

A closer inspection revealed faint imprinted lettering that appears to read “Dobb’s”, suggesting that this object was mass produced for commercial purposes. Further research led us to Dobbs, Kidd & Co., a renowned British manufacturer of greeting cards in the 1800s.

Even more intriguing were the subtle indents that suggest the fan was moulded from an early form of plastic, and not carved from bone or shell as originally assumed.

This sparked some lively discussion due to the fact that the object is thought to date from around 1870, so would have been produced at time when early plastics such as Casein and Celluloid were only just emerging in manufacturing – provoking an interesting debate within the Conservation team, and highlighting just how valuable collaborative investigation can be when working with historical objects.

Fan in previous paper enclosure

Written by Nikki Simpson (Conservation Assistant)

The Conservation and Museums Advisory Service (CMAS) aims to promote excellence in the care and use of collections by providing conservation advice and practical treatments to heritage organisations and the public. We also support museums in Wiltshire to meet professional standards and become sustainable, resilient organisations.

If you have a conservation query, want a quotation to carry out some work, or would like to book a free appointment for one of our conservation surgeries, we would love to hear from you! You can contact the team by email cmas@wiltshire.gov.uk.

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