Parasol Handle

c. 1886–1903

Parasol Handle, c. 1886–1903. Michael Evlampievich Perchin (Russian, 1860–1903), House of Fabergé (Russian, 1842–1918). Gold, enamel, diamonds, and platinum filigree; 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in.); diameter: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of John B. Black 2018.226 Women devised many methods to protect themselves from the sun when strolling outside at the end of the nineteenth century. One constant barrier from the harsh rays was the daytime parasol which looked like an umbrella but was used strictly for shade. The House of Fabergé specialized in providing fashionable wealthy ladies with bejeweled handles such as this example, which could be screwed directly into the end of the parasol shaft when a more formal look was desired. A wealthy lady around 1900 could unscrew her jeweled parasol handle and take it with her for safekeeping or swap it for another color.