Sector van een parasoldek van zachtgroene katoen, met een met woldraad geborduurde batisten rand c. 1885 - 1900

This is a section of a parasol cover, crafted from soft green cotton with a wool-embroidered batiste border, and was made by Gustav Schnitzler. The delicate nature of the cotton and batiste speaks to its intended use: shielding someone from the sun, rather than heavy weather. Consider the labor involved in creating this object. The cotton would have been grown, harvested, spun into thread, and then woven into fabric. The batiste, a fine cloth, requires even more skill and time to produce. The embroidery, done with wool thread, adds another layer of handwork. Each of these steps relies on specialized knowledge and a significant investment of time. This parasol section is a fragment of a larger story about production, skill, and the value we place on handcrafted objects versus mass-produced ones.