Brilliant Brollies
For anyone who follows my photostream, you will know that I am a big collector of things. I have many, many different collections, including a collection of antique and vintage umbrellas and parasols. They range in age from my oldest parasol, which is frilled silk with a duck beak handle from the 1820s through to some vibrant examples from the Jazz Age of the 20s and the sleek and stylish 30s.
In this photo, I have photographed part of two from the latter part of my collection. The green umbrella is made from Rayon, commonly known as artificial silk from its invention in 1846 until 1924. Since the name Rayon is proudly stitched into the edging of this umbrella, it dates from the late 1920s. It is a "Paragon" umbrella made by S. Fox and Company in England. It’s companion, also a "Paragon" umbrella made by S. Fox and Company is an exuberant example of roaring 20s fun! This umbrella was made in the era when plastic was a new and expensive material. The handle is wood, but the "hooky" head in the shape of a question mark, is made of Bakelite. Bakelite was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It was developed by the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York in 1907. S. Fox and Company was established in 1868 and still manufacture umbrellas in England to this day.
The theme for “Looking Close on Friday” for the 11th of November is “red and green”. Whilst I love Christmas, it is perhaps a little early to go digging out the Christmas ornaments for the theme. I had originally thought to photograph some of my red roses in the garden, as it is spring where I live, but the constant and torrential rain we have had lately has spoiled them all. It was the rain that made me think of these brollies as a choice for the theme. Ironically I photographed these on my front porch during a momentary burst of rare spring sunshine. I do hope you like my choice for the theme, and that it makes you smile.
Brilliant Brollies
For anyone who follows my photostream, you will know that I am a big collector of things. I have many, many different collections, including a collection of antique and vintage umbrellas and parasols. They range in age from my oldest parasol, which is frilled silk with a duck beak handle from the 1820s through to some vibrant examples from the Jazz Age of the 20s and the sleek and stylish 30s.
In this photo, I have photographed part of two from the latter part of my collection. The green umbrella is made from Rayon, commonly known as artificial silk from its invention in 1846 until 1924. Since the name Rayon is proudly stitched into the edging of this umbrella, it dates from the late 1920s. It is a "Paragon" umbrella made by S. Fox and Company in England. It’s companion, also a "Paragon" umbrella made by S. Fox and Company is an exuberant example of roaring 20s fun! This umbrella was made in the era when plastic was a new and expensive material. The handle is wood, but the "hooky" head in the shape of a question mark, is made of Bakelite. Bakelite was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It was developed by the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York in 1907. S. Fox and Company was established in 1868 and still manufacture umbrellas in England to this day.
The theme for “Looking Close on Friday” for the 11th of November is “red and green”. Whilst I love Christmas, it is perhaps a little early to go digging out the Christmas ornaments for the theme. I had originally thought to photograph some of my red roses in the garden, as it is spring where I live, but the constant and torrential rain we have had lately has spoiled them all. It was the rain that made me think of these brollies as a choice for the theme. Ironically I photographed these on my front porch during a momentary burst of rare spring sunshine. I do hope you like my choice for the theme, and that it makes you smile.