Saturday 16 January 2021

Sun Umbrellas

An umbrella is a circular canopy of cloth on a folding wooden or metal frame usually supported by a central rod. They are used for protection and come in all sizes. Some can be large pieces of furniture that cover entire cafe or picnic tables. Others are set up at the beach to help protect bathers from the hot sun. Lastly, there are portable umbrellas for personal use for those out and about in the weather. 

What is the difference between handheld umbrellas and parasols?
Broadly speaking an umbrella usually has a curved handle to allow for easy grip and most commonly associated with rain. A parasol is typically constructed from more delicate fabrics such as lace, cotton, silk, linen, and often used to give shade from the sun. 

Parasols also are often are used as photo props, below are two such examples: -

A touch of the exotic
A photograph handed down through the generations, shows an oriental umbrella, made of bamboo and paper being used as a prop, said to have been taken in Margate beach in Kent, England.

Photographer unknown, Group photo, circa 1920, Margate, Kent, England. [walk003]

The only person identified in the photograph is Emma Amelia Lovell nee James, (born in 1861 in Middlesex, England) who sits on the front left. Emma would have around 60 years of age at the time.

The other people in the photograph have not yet been identified, although there are enough similarities in facial features to suggest that they all related, particularly when comparing the eyes, suggesting that it may well be a generational photo.

The photograph appears to be taken inside a studio with a painted background that includes a depiction of the Margate lighthouse. Why would you go to the beach in Margate and have a simulated photo of the beach taken? Perhaps they were attending the seaside funfair located at Margate, Dreamland, and this was one of the theme parks attractions.

Dress-Ups

Thelma was the youngest of seven children and the granddaughter of Emma Amelia Lovell nee James.

Photographer unknown, Thelma Walker holding an umbrella, aged 3, circa 1930, 15 Albion St, Essendon, Victoria, Australia. [walk010]

Thelma never met her grandmother as they lived oceans apart, so the exchange of photographs would have been very precious – something worth getting dressed up for.

Sepia Saturday: Using Old Images As Prompt for New Reflections – prompt 553

Sources for Images:
  • Authors personal collection
Sources for Text:

7 comments:

  1. Sharing photos has always been a treat...every time my parents ran a roll of film, they would then get copies to send to our grandparents (St. Louis to Houston TX). On the backs would be the name of the recipient (rather than when, where and who was in the photo!) My other grandmother was in San Antonio, and there were Aunts who had sent their beautiful hand embroidered or smocked blouses for us to wear...all of whom would get a copy of the two sisters posing for the camera.

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  2. It looks as though they are posed with sand at their feet. Perhaps the setup allowed for more consistent lighting at the beach? In any case, it is a lovely photo to have passed down. Good luck identifying others in the photo. Always a good puzzle to solve.

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  3. One thing holding an umbrella does on a sunny day is shade the object of the photograph so the face is in shade without sun blotches which is proved in the second photograph with young Thelma.

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  4. I started using parasols when I lived in China. They're quite nice. The one's now have special protection for UV rays.

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  5. Had to laugh - you and I both included a little lesson comparing umbrellas and parasols. As for the beach photo - I wonder if the photographer brought sand into the studio or took a backdrop outside onto the beach.

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  6. Impressed that you have a group family photo with an umbrella in it! And such a precious photo of dressed-up Thelma with her parasol.

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  7. An umbrella by any other name
    Doesn't necessarily keep of the rain.
    ;)

    Love this! Especially that you have family photos to illustrate the lesson. Just perfect.

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