Parasol
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.
Artwork Details
- Title: Parasol
- Date: 1850–59
- Culture: European
- Medium: silk, ivory, wood, metal
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arthur Erber, 1956
- Object Number: 2009.300.2438
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.