Parasole, italian workshop

Beige coton muslim parasol with wine-coloured silk trim, a wine-coloured silk ribbon at the top and silk tassel. The handle is made of wood and metal. Purchased by the State, 1986.

Umbrellas were first used as parasols in the West in the sixteenth century; these were originally made from a heavy ivory frame covered in leather or very thick fabric and would have been carried by a servant. Over time, the parasol evolved into increasingly convenient and elegant models until becoming an indispensable feminine accessory in a lady’s wardrobe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Elaborately designed and decorated, it is covered with lightweight fabric and embellished with lace and ribbon; collapsible models were also popular.