Parasol
1860-1870 (made)
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.
The high quality ivory carving and fine silk on this folding carriage parasol suggests that the black lace adornment is genuine handmade Chantily lace as opposed to the extremely good imitations found on many parasols of this time. The small size of carriage parasols meant that manufacturers could use the very best in labour and materials, making them key in displays of wealth and taste. The Royal Victoria parasol displayed at the 1851 Great Exhibition had a lining of pink moiré silk starting a trend for shocking pink linings such as in this example. This bright flash of colour would have been revealed when the shade was held over the shoulder.
The high quality ivory carving and fine silk on this folding carriage parasol suggests that the black lace adornment is genuine handmade Chantily lace as opposed to the extremely good imitations found on many parasols of this time. The small size of carriage parasols meant that manufacturers could use the very best in labour and materials, making them key in displays of wealth and taste. The Royal Victoria parasol displayed at the 1851 Great Exhibition had a lining of pink moiré silk starting a trend for shocking pink linings such as in this example. This bright flash of colour would have been revealed when the shade was held over the shoulder.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Metal frame covered with silk and silk machine lace, and stick of wood and carved ivory |
| Brief description | lace silk ivory, 1860-70, English; Machine black lace on white silk, pink silk lining |
| Physical description | Parasol. Blacksilk machine lace on white silk ground and pink silk lining. Folding wooden and carved ivory stick. Carved ivory ferrule. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by HM Queen Mary |
| Object history | Description from the acquisition register Folding handle of turned bone. Cover of black lace over white silk, lined with lavender silk. On the top a bone ring with white silk tassel. |
| 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. The high quality ivory carving and fine silk on this folding carriage parasol suggests that the black lace adornment is genuine handmade Chantily lace as opposed to the extremely good imitations found on many parasols of this time. The small size of carriage parasols meant that manufacturers could use the very best in labour and materials, making them key in displays of wealth and taste. The Royal Victoria parasol displayed at the 1851 Great Exhibition had a lining of pink moiré silk starting a trend for shocking pink linings such as in this example. This bright flash of colour would have been revealed when the shade was held over the shoulder. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.15-1939 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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