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Umbrellas and Parasols

Umbrella, parasol, sunshade, brolly, bumbershoot, gamp, etc. These are all names for what is basically the same object. Some are slang names, but two of them, umbrella and parasol, are the most used. The main difference between them is that umbrellas are primarily used for protection against rain, and parasols are for protection from the sun, though there is some overlap in function between them.

Umbrellas tend to be the more utilitarian of the two. Parasols, besides being sun shades, are often much more decorative. For that reason, this week's focus is primarily on parasols.

Parasols have been around for a long time. This stele, dating from the Akkadian Period (2334-2154 BCE) in Persia, is well over 4,000 years old.

Sargon of Akkad is shown here below a parasol being held by a servant. It has several recognizable features, the main one of which is the inverted, cone-shaped canopy that provides shade. Probably made of fabric, it is mounted on a shaft with curved stretchers running from the shaft to the canopy's underside to help it keep its shape. That design suggests that it may have been able to be folded when not in use. Numerous ancient images suggest that besides providing shade, parasols were status symbols.

Some large parasols could be attached to carriages, like in this 2nd century B.C. Chinese terracotta statue.

Parasols have been essential women's fashion accessories since the time of the ancient Greeks. More recent examples can be found in Victorian era parasols like this American one from the 1850s.

This elaborate example was made sometime in the 1880 to 1890 time period.

There is no shortage of paintings of women in that era sporting parasols. This 1888 painting by American artist John Singer Sargent (1856 – 1925) is an example. It depicts his sister, Violet, out for a walk. It appears to be a little strange because it looks like Violet is shading the parasol from the sun rather than the other way around.

Wagasa

As seen in the terracotta picture above, parasols were long known in China. It is unknown what the Japanese did for portable shade before the Heian Period (794 – 1185), but it was in that period that what the Japanese call wagasa was introduced from China. Originally restricted for use by aristocrats only, the first wagasa were tall and large. Constructed of washi (rice paper) and bamboo, the first wagasa were of little use for protection from rain. Then 14th century artisans began coating canopy washi with waxes and vegetable oils. Folding technology was developed in the 16th century.

By the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), wagasa were allowed for use by anyone. Just as in Western art, Japanese ukiyo-e of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful people) often featured young ladies holding wagasa. The ukiyo-e below, Lovers under an Umbrella in the Snow, was produced by Suzuki Harunobu in the 1766 to 1767 timeframe.

Some traditional wagasa are still hand made in Japan today, but it requires considerable skill. The whole process consists of 100-steps and takes months to complete. The photo below gives some idea of the complexity of their construction.

There are three main types of wagasa. Bangasa are for everyday use. Janomegasa are light, dainty, and easy to carry. For that reason, they are favored for use by geisha. Higasa are useful only for sunshade. 

Modern bangasa are made a little differently than the traditional versions, but they are still similar.

There is no restriction as to the colors used and the design of the canopy, but in the past, red was the most common color used. That was for the same reason that most torii gates are red; evil spirits are repelled by the color.

Parasols are not much used today, and up until about 20 years ago, that was true in Japan, too. Then someone produced parasol canopies treated to block UV rays. The success rate is in the 80-90% success range. The result is that parasols are regaining popularity. They may not be wagasa designs, but the idea is the same.

With all this focus on parasols (and umbrellas) being used as portable protection from rain and sunshine, it is easy to forget that they have other uses, too, especially by magical nannies.