The parasol was a popular accessory during the 19th and early 20th century, a period when sun tanned skin was highly undesirable. It functioned both as a sunshade and a fashionable accompaniment to dress, distinguishing itself from the umbrella through its infinite and luxurious forms and essentially feminine status. Like the earlier trend for fans parasols displayed an individual's style and could be used in a coquettish ritual to hide the modest bearer from unwanted glances.
This white silk parasol has a cord either end of the cover, one attached to the ferrule (decorative tip of the parasol) to enable it to be held with the cover facing up and one around the rib tips to hold the cover closed when it is held facing down. The wooden stick and ferrule are both carved and painted to look like coral. This example also has an additional piece of matching silk on the inside covering the supportive structure of the shade.