Parasol

Unknown

1850–59 · silk, ivory, wood, metal · Costume Institute

This style of parasol is the ultimate in frivolity and fancifulness. The particularly special element is the lovely carved hand on the spike. Carriage parasols were ostensibly used to shade the wearer from the sun and they were initiated by Queen Victoria in the 1840s when riding in open carriages began. This parasol purportedly belonged to a member of the royal family of Austria during Franz-Joseph's reign (1830-1916), emperor of Austria from 1848-1916.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1850–59

Medium

silk, ivory, wood, metal

Culture

European

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arthur Erber, 1956