Umbrella
For the woman of style in the early 20th century, practicality and luxury were not mutually exclusive. While the primary function of her umbrella was to protect her from the rain, Mercedes de Acosta, the owner of this example, made a statement about her refined taste whenever she carried it. The materials and craftsmanship of the object confirm its origins at Dupuy, a maker of umbrella and parasols located in the most prestigious and elegant shopping district in Paris at the turn of the century. The monogram adds another level of exclusivity to the piece with the initials "M de A" arranged in an elegant scrolling cipher. This fine metalwork may have been completed by a jeweler.
Artwork Details
- Title: Umbrella
- Designer: Dupuy (French)
- Date: 1910–20
- Culture: French
- Medium: silk, tortoiseshell, metal, wood, synthetic
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mercedes de Acosta, 1953
- Object Number: 2009.300.2394
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
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