Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - May 11, 1985
By Deborah Curtis
Vigo County Historical Society

Through centuries of sun and rain, umbrella maintains basic design

"I covered it with skins, the hair upward, so that it cast off the rain like a penthouse, and kept off the sun so effectively that I could walk out in the hottest weather, with greater advantage than I could before in the coolest."--"Robinson Crusoe"

Whether Daniel DeFoe's 1719 account of his stranded hero's creation of an umbrella was responsible for introducing the umbrella to northern Europe is subject to debate.

What is not debatable is that the umbrella has a very long history--more than 2,000 years--having served as a sun shade to monarchs and priests in ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece, China, Japan and India.

It was not until late in the 16th Century--after they were introduced to the western world--that umbrellas began to be used as protection from rain. Umbrellas made their first European appearance in Italy and were in France by 1680. The first Englishmen to carry umbrellas early in the 18th Century were subjected to jeers and insults, especially from cab drivers who felt their business might be threatened if walking in bad weather became more practical.

The Englishmen held their ground, however, not giving up the utility of their umbrellas. By 1787 umbrellas were so commonplace that England began to manufacture its own instead of relying on imports.

English umbrellas had an interesting feature. Superstition led manufacturers to attach acorns to handles to protect carriers against lightning. This tradition traced back to a belief that the god of thunder held oak trees sacred. Modern umbrellas sometimes carry vestiges of this old superstition with small ivory carvings or other adornments shaped similar to acorns dangling from handles.

The general construction of umbrellas has changed very little over the centuries, still following the Chinese pattern of 28 to 36 ribs covered with strong cloth. Early eastern handles generally were made of exotic woods, while gold and carved ivory became fashionable later. In Europe, bent wood handles, which easily could be hooked over one's arm, became popular.

The parasol emerged as an accessory to feminine European dress in the 19th Century. Unlike its functional counterpart, the parasol was more ornamental. Its only weather function was to shield from the sun--never from the rain. Its much more significant purpose was to enhance the carrier's costume and movements--it was undoubtedly a flirting device. In America, the parasol very closely rivaled the fan as the preferred accessory to feminine charm.

Parasols came in a variety of shapes, including flat, rounded and even pagoda-shaped. They were made of silk, lace, ribbons and fringe. By mid-century, taffeta with gold lace trim was increasingly popular.

By the end of the 19th Century, it was fashionable for women to display their parasols while riding in topless horse carts or phaetons with the tops let down. Some parasols were hinged at the top of the stem to allow angular adjustments for the sun.

With the advent of the motor car, of course, ladies of fashion seldom were inclined to walk great distances. The parasol rapidly faded from the fashion scene.

This week's historical treasure, an oriental parasol made of 36 bamboo ribs covered with oiled paper, probably dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. The handle is bamboo with a polished-wood knob. The top of the parasol has a brass tip. The bright orange paper is colorfully painted with large flowers, leaves and butterflies, creating a lovely addition to the collection of antique umbrellas and parasols in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.