Onderstok van parasol of parapluie van bamboe met gladde knop en knoestige bol van hout c. 1920 - 1940

Curator: Oh, what a fascinatingly modest object this is! Before us, we have the lower shaft, crafted in bamboo with a sleek knob and a gnarled wooden bulge, designed for either a parasol or umbrella. It dates roughly from 1920 to 1940. Editor: It feels strangely compelling. Something about its linearity is almost severe, while that bulbous base has this strange, organic softness. The contrast, it tugs at you. Curator: Precisely! The bamboo, all polished smoothness, leads your eye to this rough, almost grotesque bulb. The anonymous craftsman was, I suspect, drawn to those oppositions. The smooth control versus the chaotic nature, all wrapped up in something meant for protection, a shield from the elements. Editor: The idea of protection, you’re right. The bulb reminds me of ancient fertility totems – earthy, grounded power ready to spring into form. Perhaps a symbolic invocation against ill fortune, veiled in such unassuming, daily design. Curator: It is tempting to interpret it like that. Every curve, every imperfection… they echo a hidden narrative. Yet, could it simply be… a good grip? Our modern eyes love to hunt for complex symbols, but maybe it was also meant for our grandmothers or great-grandmothers. An object to facilitate mobility, with both functionality and visual rhythm. Editor: Even then, though, what objects do we really choose? To mark who we are? We think about aesthetics now when selecting our objects in this world. Perhaps there is more going on than meets the eye! What stories did this handle know? Curator: Maybe we'll never truly decipher every little whisper embedded inside of it! A useful and intriguing thing to find here in this exhibit, indeed. Editor: Yes, to carry with us to interpret everything else! Thanks!