#2274 $1,650
Chantilly lace parasol with miniature paintings, c.1860
This superb parasol (from a major estate in Palm Beach, Florida) is a rare find for the serious collector. It was part of a collection of unique lace parasols.
The parasol cover has panels of black silk and black Chantilly lace. On the silk portion are botanicals alternating with miniature paintings of figures dressed in 18th century clothing.
This style of painting was typically found on hand painted Victorian fans, as seen in the picture below of a fan we sold several years ago. The painting itself is not unusual, but its appearance on a parasol is rare. I have never found another one like it.
The carriage style parasol has a detachable handle that makes it more compact when not in use. The tip of the handle is an unusual shade of amber/rose mother-of-pearl. It is etched with bronze and silver floral branches. The shaft is black painted wood.
The parasol, which was meant to be unlined, is beautifully finished on the inside with silk-covered spokes. The color is darker and less brown in person; I lightened the pictures to show the detail.
The condition is almost excellent. I found only a few inconspicuous breaks in the lace. The large and showy parasol measures approximately 42" across when opened. It is 38" long.
