Parasol met een dek van Chantillykant afgezet met een strook witte katoenen kloskant en gevoerd met witte tafzijde op een stok van gesneden ivoor waarop de initialen 'EVN' c. 1855 - 1875

This is an anonymous parasol, meticulously crafted with Chantilly lace, cotton bobbin lace, white taffeta, and an ivory handle adorned with the initials ‘EVN.’ Parasols like these were more than mere sunshades, they were potent symbols of class and gender during an era defined by rigid social hierarchies. Pale skin was highly valued, signifying a life of leisure and shielding women from the sun's darkening effects, implying manual labor. To carry such a parasol was to perform a very specific kind of femininity. The delicate lace and fine ivory speak to the intricate labor involved in its creation, and the global trade networks that made these materials accessible. Consider, too, that the initials suggest a specific owner, perhaps a woman navigating the complex social rituals of her time. This object invites us to reflect on the ways in which fashion and personal adornment are intertwined with power, identity, and the silent narratives of those who both create and consume them.