The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 6, 2024

Parasol Handle

Parasol Handle

c. 1886–1903
(Russian, 1860–1903)
(Russian, 1842–1918)
Russia, St. Petersburg
Gold, enamel, diamonds, and platinum filigree
8.5 cm (3 3/8 in.); Diameter: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.)
Bequest of John B. Black 2018.226
Location: 211 Fabergé

Did You Know?

A wealthy lady around 1900 could unscrew her jeweled parasol handle and take it with her for safekeeping or swap it for another color.

Description

Women devised many methods to protect themselves from the sun when strolling outside at the end of the nineteenth century. One constant barrier from the harsh rays was the daytime parasol which looked like an umbrella but was used strictly for shade. The House of Fabergé specialized in providing fashionable wealthy ladies with bejeweled handles such as this example, which could be screwed directly into the end of the parasol shaft when a more formal look was desired.
  • ?-2018
    From the collection of John Baxter Black [1924-2014], Mansfield, OH, bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2018-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art
  • {{cite web|title=Parasol Handle|url=false|author=Michael Evlampievich Perchin, House of Fabergé|year=c. 1886–1903|access-date=06 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2018.226