Parasol met dek van effen witte katoen, op een smalle houten stok, met onderaan een witte dobbelsteen waarop blauwe stippen c. 1900

This parasol was made by Gustav Schnitzler with cotton, wood, and a die with blue dots. Notice that it’s not just the umbrella’s design that makes it special, but also the materials and the work that went into it. The canopy is crafted from plain white cotton, stretched over a frame of narrow wooden struts. The textile is light and airy, offering relief from the sun. The handle, a slender wooden rod, provides a comfortable grip. But it’s the playful touch at the base that catches the eye: a white die, marked with blue dots, introducing an element of chance and whimsy to this everyday object. Consider all the steps required to bring such an object into being. Cultivating and weaving the cotton, shaping the wooden frame, and assembling the components with precision. In its own way, this parasol speaks volumes about the relationship between design, labor, and the small joys of life.