Parasol

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 19th French fashion with this exquisite parasol from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. to the 1800s and likely crafted in France, this accessory was far more than sun protection—it was a hallmark of refined femininity and social grace. During the Victorian era, paras like this one shielded delicate complexions from harsh rays while serving as fashionable statements, twirled at garden parties or promenades in Paris's grand boulevards. Crafted from luxurious silk for its lightweight, shimmering canopy and polished ivory for the handle, the paraso...