Parasol
1890s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The parasol was a popular accessory during the 19th and early 20th century, a period when sun tanned skin was highly undesirable. It functioned both as a sunshade and a fashionable accompaniment to dress, distinguishing itself from the umbrella through its infinite and luxurious forms and essentially feminine status. Like the earlier trend for fans parasols displayed an individual's style and could be used in a coquettish ritual to hide the modest bearer from unwanted glances.
Complicated and ever - changing rules dictated every aspect of a woman's attire during a period of mourning, and instructions on what to wear and when were published in women's magazines. This parasol from the 1890s is entirely black, right down to the carved ebonised wooden handle. The deep lace flounce around the edges would have hidden the face which in deepest early mourning would have been hidden by a veil.
Complicated and ever - changing rules dictated every aspect of a woman's attire during a period of mourning, and instructions on what to wear and when were published in women's magazines. This parasol from the 1890s is entirely black, right down to the carved ebonised wooden handle. The deep lace flounce around the edges would have hidden the face which in deepest early mourning would have been hidden by a veil.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Steel covered with silk satin and lace, carved wood and metal |
| Brief description | Parasol of silk satin and lace with a carved and ebonised wood handle, probably made in Great Britain, 1890s |
| Physical description | Parasol consisting of a black silk satin cover with a deep lace flounce around the edges and a lace insertion in a different black lace mid-way down the cover. Carved ebonised wood handle, steel frame and metal tip. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | The parasol was a popular accessory during the 19th and early 20th century, a period when sun tanned skin was highly undesirable. It functioned both as a sunshade and a fashionable accompaniment to dress, distinguishing itself from the umbrella through its infinite and luxurious forms and essentially feminine status. Like the earlier trend for fans parasols displayed an individual's style and could be used in a coquettish ritual to hide the modest bearer from unwanted glances. Complicated and ever - changing rules dictated every aspect of a woman's attire during a period of mourning, and instructions on what to wear and when were published in women's magazines. This parasol from the 1890s is entirely black, right down to the carved ebonised wooden handle. The deep lace flounce around the edges would have hidden the face which in deepest early mourning would have been hidden by a veil. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.272-1998 |
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| Record created | May 31, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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