Shooting Star Enterprises
Victorian Parasol History

Choosing the correct parasol to complete your victorian outfit can be a challenge
here are some hints from
Antique and Vintage Clothing: A Guide to Dating and Valuation of Women's Clothing, 1850 to 1940
by Diane Snyder-Haug


Metal ribs were first manufactured in 1851

Cane and Whalebone ribs were seldom seen after 1870

Pre-1865 parasols had slender sticks that often folded in half for storage

Fashionable Parasol lengths started out shorter early on and grew longer as the decades progressed reaching their longest in the Edwardian era.

My personal observations are that 1870's and earlier parasols were generally under 28" in length,
with larger parasols appearing in the 1880's.

From the photographs these parasols often had fancy wood, brass or silver handles and resting on the floor would extend to the carrier's hand or perhaps even up to their waistline (I estimate between 31-40" long)

1861 parasol- Civil war parasol -note the small dome and short handle


1873 parasol handles becoming more substantial and varied, dome still small


1881 Parasols


1889 Parasols

1894 Parasol

(the above are reduced size images taken from our class)

We also make custom parasols
here are the ones we did for the movie "Cold Mountain"


And this is the set that was done for "Legend of Zorro"


I also teach a class on how to make great parasols like these-
look below for the link to more information.

Purchase the Pattern and get supplies
Shooting Star Enterprises home page
Civil war Custom Clothes
Online Classes

Just for fun- this is the parasol created by us for Ashley Paige's runway show Oct. 2006-
we did the black silk organza base and handle- she added the crochet
Marna Jean and Doug Davis
oakley@shootingstarhistory.com