Handvat en ronde knop van geverfd hout, voor een paraplu of parasol c. 1920

Curator: First impressions? For me, it whispers of quiet luxury. The muted tones, the gentle curves—there's something undeniably comforting. Editor: Agreed. But let's place it. This is a "Handvat en ronde knop van geverfd hout, voor een paraplu of parasol," crafted around 1920. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Given its time, it reads to me like a symbol of a very particular kind of feminine identity—decorative, ornamental almost, but implying agency through accessorization. Curator: "Agency through accessorization," I love that! Because otherwise, on its own, separated from the umbrella, it is just an object with such a humble presence. Almost like a fragment of a daydream. The Art Deco sensibility, with its lean lines and gentle ornamentation, always gets me, even in this very mundane piece of craftsmanship. Editor: Absolutely. The use of materials—painted wood—signals a turn away from the ornate excesses of the Victorian era towards a more streamlined modernism. It's less about pure material value and more about design. Curator: Yes, definitely less "look at my riches!" and more "look at my *style*." I also notice that the handle and button—if we may call it so—show beautiful irregularities in the paint, which gives it warmth. The artist, or artisan if you will, wasn’t trying to create something perfect, more so authentic. Editor: The addition of the tassel further cements the identity politics here. Tassels historically denote status and power. It is subverting expectations and embedding social commentary, all through something so innocuous as an umbrella handle. Who is it made for? Curator: Right, who carries this, how, and why? That is what's so endlessly fascinating about decorative art! The handle in isolation is just an odd, elegant curio, almost begging for context. And what better context than the rain, or the sun? To make it appear or disappear as weather dictates. Editor: Precisely! This object, though small and seemingly insignificant, provides a window into a world undergoing massive transformation, reflected even in the smallest details. I would venture to suggest this shift might also allude to the emerging cultural landscapes and diverse positionalities of the 'New Woman'. Curator: A window indeed. Who knew an umbrella handle could be so revealing? Now, next time I see someone with a beautiful umbrella, I will see so much more. Editor: Yes. Beyond weather protection, a mirror reflecting societal currents.