UmbrellaAn umbrella with raindropsThis parasol shades visitors to a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.Man sitting under a beach umbrella
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Umbrellas, Parasols

An umbrella is a device used for temporary shade or shelter from precipitation. They can be made by stretching a fabric or other material over a wire frame. more...

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Umbrellas carried by hand are now usually used as rain shields, although their first use was for shielding from the sun; however, as tans became more sociably acceptable, this usage declined.

An umbrella made for protection from the sun, is called a parasol. These are often meant to be fixed to one point and often used with patio tables or other outdoor furniture, or on the beach for shelter from the sun.

The word "umbrella" is from the Latin word "umbra" for shade or shadow.

"Brolly" is a slang word for umbrella, used often in Britain; "bumbershoot" is another.

History

Ancient umbrella history

The term umbrella is derived from the parasol, which was first used as a protection against the scorching heat of the sun, "para" meaing stop and "sol" meaning sun. The parasol or umbrella dates from the earliest ages, some commentators on the Bible fancying they can discover it in places where a shade protecting from the sun is mentioned.

The collapsible and internally supported umbrella is commonly credited as being invented during the Wei Dynasty in ancient China, roughly 1,700 years ago. The Chinese character for umbrella is 傘 san and is a pictograph resembling the modern umbrella in design. Some investigators have supposed that its invention was suggested by large leaves tied to the branching extremities of a bough; others assert that the idea was probably derived from the tent, which remains in form unaltered to the present day. However, the tradition existing in China is that it originated in standards and banners waving in the air, hence the use of the umbrella was often linked to high ranking (though not necessarily royalty in China). On one occasion at least, we hear of twenty-four umbrellas being carried before the Emperor when he went out hunting. In this case the umbrella served as a defence against rain rather than sun. The Chinese design was later bought to Japan via Korea and also introduced to Persia and the West via the Silk Road. The Chinese and Japanese traditional parosol, often used near temples, to this day remains similar to the original Wei Dynasty design.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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A Cloth Fabric Umbrellas ParasolA Cloth Fabric Umbrellas Parasol $16.50 Beautiful Umbrella/Cane Handle with Mother of PearlBeautiful Umbrella/Cane Handle with Mother of Pearl $25.00
1950s Plaid Wood Umbrella Carved Blue Lucite Old Timer!1950s Plaid Wood Umbrella Carved Blue Lucite Old Timer! $19.99 A Umbrella Parasol ,Sun protectA Umbrella Parasol ,Sun protect $18.50
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Ladies Oriental Style-Look Vinage Parasol ~ UmbrellaLadies Oriental Style-Look Vinage Parasol ~ Umbrella $27.95 umbrella /walking cane brass horse handle /old umbrella /walking cane brass horse handle /old $145.00
Vintage Figural Chinese Scenes Celluloid Parasol HandleVintage Figural Chinese Scenes Celluloid Parasol Handle 14K Gold Mother of Pearl Umbrella/Cane Handle Big!14K Gold Mother of Pearl Umbrella/Cane Handle Big! $38.50
Vintage Cloth Childs Umbrella Asian Girl Wood HandleVintage Cloth Childs Umbrella Asian Girl Wood Handle $9.99 Daimaru Department Stores Parosol w/ bakelite 1911Daimaru Department Stores Parosol w/ bakelite 1911 $525.00
Vintage Black Umbrella Horse Head Handle 4 Restoration Vintage Black Umbrella Horse Head Handle 4 Restoration $9.99 Vtg Unique Waterproof Multicolored Umbrella ParasolVtg Unique Waterproof Multicolored Umbrella Parasol $24.00
Oil Paper ParasolOil Paper Parasol $0.99 "Victorian" Parasol Over 100 Years Old"Victorian" Parasol Over 100 Years Old $75.00
Retro Vintage Umbrella Confetti Plastic Handle w/ RingRetro Vintage Umbrella Confetti Plastic Handle w/ Ring $49.99 Victorian Bone/Silver Umbrella/Cane Handle Beautiful!Victorian Bone/Silver Umbrella/Cane Handle Beautiful! $9.99
Vintage 1970's Clear Vinyl Umbrella Black White Trim Vintage 1970's Clear Vinyl Umbrella Black White Trim $7.99 Awesome Antique Old Time Parasol Umbrella ~Functional~Awesome Antique Old Time Parasol Umbrella ~Functional~ $31.99
Vintage Orange Umbrella w/ Pink Flowers Chic Retro NiceVintage Orange Umbrella w/ Pink Flowers Chic Retro Nice $6.99 Vintage silk parasol with elaborate black lace trimVintage silk parasol with elaborate black lace trim $23.99
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Antique Pink Silk & Embroidered Bone Womens ParasolAntique Pink Silk & Embroidered Bone Womens Parasol $19.99 Vintage 70s Mod Umbrella Wood Handle Nylon Tag NosVintage 70s Mod Umbrella Wood Handle Nylon Tag Nos $25.00
antique quality wood and amber umbrella cane stalkantique quality wood and amber umbrella cane stalk $250.00 Vintage Kids unbrella decoration! oriental Free ShipngVintage Kids unbrella decoration! oriental Free Shipng
Victorian Bone Umbrella/Cane Handle Nice!Victorian Bone Umbrella/Cane Handle Nice! $9.99 Vintage Parasol Handle Mop Silver Bands Repousse GfVintage Parasol Handle Mop Silver Bands Repousse Gf $119.96
Vintage Child Duck Cloth Umbrella Oriental Lady Handle Vintage Child Duck Cloth Umbrella Oriental Lady Handle $27.50 Vtg Unique Japan Waterproof Checkered Umbrella ParasolVtg Unique Japan Waterproof Checkered Umbrella Parasol $99.00
Vintage Vinyl Clear Dome Umbrella w/ Black accentVintage Vinyl Clear Dome Umbrella w/ Black accent $12.99 Vtg 60s Blue Flower Fabric Beach Chair Umbrella + ClampVtg 60s Blue Flower Fabric Beach Chair Umbrella + Clamp $19.99
Antique Ladies Umbrella Parasol Custom Made Jeweled ExcAntique Ladies Umbrella Parasol Custom Made Jeweled Exc $9.99 Vintage Wood and Paper Parasol - Asian, hand-printedVintage Wood and Paper Parasol - Asian, hand-printed $20.00
Vintage 1950s umbrella lucite dog handle blue red plaidVintage 1950s umbrella lucite dog handle blue red plaid $25.00 Gold Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle from Late 1800's Gold Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle from Late 1800's $9.99
Vintage Metal Umbrella Stand Holder Umbrella ShapeVintage Metal Umbrella Stand Holder Umbrella Shape $9.99 Outstanding Vintage Battenburg Lace Umbrella Parasol Outstanding Vintage Battenburg Lace Umbrella Parasol $29.99
White Battenburg Lace Parasol New Style, Sun Parasol *White Battenburg Lace Parasol New Style, Sun Parasol * $28.99 Silver Repousse Victorian Umbrella Handle 1800's Huge!Silver Repousse Victorian Umbrella Handle 1800's Huge! $11.49
Vintage Victorian Look Umbrella, Ornate Silver Handle Vintage Victorian Look Umbrella, Ornate Silver Handle $9.99 Vintage/Antique Flowered Umbrella With Wooden HandleVintage/Antique Flowered Umbrella With Wooden Handle $55.99
Small Antique Victorian Parasol / Wood Handle & KnobSmall Antique Victorian Parasol / Wood Handle & Knob $19.99 Vintage Nice Plaid Blue/Tan/White Parasol UmbrellaVintage Nice Plaid Blue/Tan/White Parasol Umbrella $71.99
Silver Stamped Victorian Umbrella Handle from 1800's Silver Stamped Victorian Umbrella Handle from 1800's $9.99 Vintage Umbrella Bakelite Handle! Very Cool!Vintage Umbrella Bakelite Handle! Very Cool! $12.99
Vintage Clear Vinyl Umbrella W/Yellow Trim 1960’SVintage Clear Vinyl Umbrella W/Yellow Trim 1960’S $34.30 Vintage parasol with beautiful lace work and sparkleVintage parasol with beautiful lace work and sparkle $49.99
vintage black Umbrella parasol - wood handle Victorianvintage black Umbrella parasol - wood handle Victorian $9.99 Vintage Decorative Hand Painted ParacelVintage Decorative Hand Painted Paracel
Embroidered White Battenburg Lace Parasol, Brides ActorEmbroidered White Battenburg Lace Parasol, Brides Actor $27.99 Vtg 50's Hawaiiana Hotel Beach Umbrella~Printi​ng~ HawaiiVtg 50's Hawaiiana Hotel Beach Umbrella~Printi​ng~ Hawaii $19.99
Vintage Copper Brown Nylon Umbrella Parasol Vintage Copper Brown Nylon Umbrella Parasol $27.00 Gold Mother of Pearl Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle OldGold Mother of Pearl Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle Old $9.99
Vintage Owl Handle Umbrella Parasol Haas-Jordan ToledoVintage Owl Handle Umbrella Parasol Haas-Jordan Toledo $7.99 Silver Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle 8 1/2 Inches LongSilver Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle 8 1/2 Inches Long $9.99
Antique Hand Chased Gold Filled Parasol Handle Antique Hand Chased Gold Filled Parasol Handle $9.00 Bamboo UmbrellaBamboo Umbrella $39.99
Vintage Umbrella Schertz Green Wristlet Handle Nylon Vintage Umbrella Schertz Green Wristlet Handle Nylon $45.00 Vintage Clear Dome Umbrella W/Mod Red Print 1960’SVintage Clear Dome Umbrella W/Mod Red Print 1960’S $41.30
Vintage White Lace Embroidered Crochet Umbrella ParasolVintage White Lace Embroidered Crochet Umbrella Parasol $0.99 Antique Sterling Silver & Mother Of Pearl Umbrella Antique Sterling Silver & Mother Of Pearl Umbrella
Vintage Child'S Parasol Flowered Umbrella Carnival HdlVintage Child'S Parasol Flowered Umbrella Carnival Hdl $28.00 Vintage Look Red & Brown Plaid Umbrella 36" Auto-Open Vintage Look Red & Brown Plaid Umbrella 36" Auto-Open $29.95
Vintage Black Parasol Umbrella Wooden/Lucite HandleVintage Black Parasol Umbrella Wooden/Lucite Handle $55.99 Retro Umbrella Spring flowers lucite bakelite rainRetro Umbrella Spring flowers lucite bakelite rain $8.00
1950s Vintage Child Sun Umbrella On Flowers1950s Vintage Child Sun Umbrella On Flowers Vintage 1970S Fosters Bitter Beer Umbrella Wood HandleVintage 1970S Fosters Bitter Beer Umbrella Wood Handle $75.00
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14K Gold Dark Bone Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle Wow!14K Gold Dark Bone Victorian Umbrella/Cane Handle Wow! $9.99 Sun Batten Lace Parasol Umbrella Wedding 3color U PickSun Batten Lace Parasol Umbrella Wedding 3color U Pick $19.99
New, Gorgeous Handmade Thai Umbrella - Very well-madeNew, Gorgeous Handmade Thai Umbrella - Very well-made Metal Victorian Cane Handle Nice!Metal Victorian Cane Handle Nice! $0.99
Vintage Umbrella Large Black Wood Handle TlcVintage Umbrella Large Black Wood Handle Tlc $65.00 Vintage Umbrella Large Black Cherry Wood Handle TlcVintage Umbrella Large Black Cherry Wood Handle Tlc $115.00
Carved Umbrella or Walkingstick Handle from the 60sCarved Umbrella or Walkingstick Handle from the 60s $0.99 Vintage Red Walking Stick Umbrella W/Case 1950’SVintage Red Walking Stick Umbrella W/Case 1950’S $27.30
Hand Carved Victorian Wooden Cane Handle Silver StampedHand Carved Victorian Wooden Cane Handle Silver Stamped $9.99 Vintage Chic Plaid Rain Sun Umbrella w/ Original Box NrVintage Chic Plaid Rain Sun Umbrella w/ Original Box Nr $9.99
1932 Vintage Silk Umbrella Ad1932 Vintage Silk Umbrella Ad $9.99 Black Cat Fireworks Umbrella Vintage Black Cat Fireworks Umbrella Vintage $44.99
Vintage UmbrellaVintage Umbrella $22.00 Vintage 24 " Parasol - JapaneseVintage 24 " Parasol - Japanese $12.99
Beautiful vintage antique wood & paper parasolBeautiful vintage antique wood & paper parasol $24.99 Vintage Parasol Sun Umbrella Paper and Wood 29" Blue!Vintage Parasol Sun Umbrella Paper and Wood 29" Blue! $34.99
Antique Glass Eyes Gold Filled Bird Parasol Handle Antique Glass Eyes Gold Filled Bird Parasol Handle Vintage Umbrella Black Pagoda Carved Lucite Handle VgcVintage Umbrella Black Pagoda Carved Lucite Handle Vgc $85.00
Vintage Green and Cream UmbrellaVintage Green and Cream Umbrella $52.99 Black & White Gingham Umberella Made In Italy 1950’SBlack & White Gingham Umberella Made In Italy 1950’S $55.30
Marimekko Finland *Pirput Parput* Umbrella Black &GreyMarimekko Finland *Pirput Parput* Umbrella Black &Grey $49.50 Antique Late 1800'S To Early 1900'S Parasol UmbrellaAntique Late 1800'S To Early 1900'S Parasol Umbrella $12.99
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Prices current as of last update, 07/30/10 10:45am.

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