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Faire Garb => Garbing => Topic started by: Syrilla on April 29, 2010, 06:33:07 AM

Title: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Syrilla on April 29, 2010, 06:33:07 AM
Hello everyone, I know it's not tech clothing, but I am in search of a period style of water proof umbrella.  Not the paper/rice style, but something that will really hold up.
Thank you
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Tixi on April 29, 2010, 06:40:14 AM
My first thought was http://www.lunabazaar.com/paper-parasols.aspx (http://www.lunabazaar.com/paper-parasols.aspx) - I think they have some that are not paper. Even some of the paper ones are supposedly waterproof. Probably not the highest quality, but they are cheap.

A steampunk umbrella might work - something like:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/20824787/steampunk-parasol-gold-roses-on-black (http://www.etsy.com/listing/20824787/steampunk-parasol-gold-roses-on-black)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/45804109/black-boa-second-line-umbrella-small (http://www.etsy.com/listing/45804109/black-boa-second-line-umbrella-small)

etsy has some nice ones:  http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=steampunk+umbrella&search_type=handmade&ref=auto (http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=steampunk+umbrella&search_type=handmade&ref=auto)

If that's not what you're looking for, I seem to recall a previous thread about parasols on this board.

You could also cut out the middle man - take a regular umbrella and decorate it with lace or feathers to make it your own, match an outfit, etc.


Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Anna Iram on April 29, 2010, 07:15:00 AM
Syrilla, I purchased a Thai oiled paper parasol. I like the style with the wooden Thai "cap" at the top. Anyway, I've not used it in heavy rain, but in a lite drizzle 'till I could find cover it did fine. Just have to keep it opened until it's completly dry.

http://www.asianideas.com/copapa.html


Another thought, as you are so creative, you could purchase one , remove the paper and replace it with something you know will hold up to rain. Shouldn't be that hard. The paper is just glued on and/or lightly stitched.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Blue66669 on April 29, 2010, 08:18:51 AM
Syrilla, the parasols at TRF are either treated paper or canvas, I  can't tell. But if you remember the Mem Day Weekend rainstorm of 08? My parasol held up to that, and is STILL in good working order.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Lady L on April 30, 2010, 12:10:13 AM
Wild West Mercantile had some parasols on sale. You could treat it with that campdry stuff.

http://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/Category.cgi?category=8210&type=store
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: isabelladangelo on April 30, 2010, 11:04:02 AM
Since umbrella's aren't period (parasols were very very late 16th c and only in Italy it looks like), I tend to use things that have a wooden handle and are covers of famous medieval/renaissance art.  My favorite one to use is one of the two angels by Michelangelo. 

In period, they used wool hoods or stayed in.  We don't know better than to stay inside during a rainstorm anymore...
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: McGuinness on April 30, 2010, 11:59:54 AM
There are also the swrod-hilted ones discussed in the other thread:

http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=10836.0
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Zardoz on April 30, 2010, 05:14:42 PM
This Witches Stitches's

www.myspace.com/thiswitchesstitches 
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on April 30, 2010, 06:34:03 PM
To my eye, anything with all that lace on it actually looks *less* authentic. I'm with those who suggest getting an oiled paper parasol and waterproofing it with CampDry.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Lady Renee Buchanan on May 01, 2010, 07:39:48 AM
Syrilla, is the umbrella to be used when you are working at a faire?  Because I bet 99.9% of the patrons have no idea of what is period or not, and I'm sure they wouldn't care.  After all, the queen mustn't get wet!  You can get them with a wooden handle and spokes, might have to look for them a little, but I've seen them at faire at different times.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on May 01, 2010, 09:20:33 AM
You know, this makes me think there's gotta be some (small, side) business in something like custom umbrellas. Maybe an artist could screen print them or something. But imagine something like a Tudor rose umbrella, or a royal crest, or a jester umbrella (with harlequin pattern, points, and bells). How cool would that be?!
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Adriana Rose on May 01, 2010, 10:04:51 AM
I have started buying the cheapie umbrellas from wally world and painting them with acrylic paint and then adding flowers around the edges. It is a truly fab umbrella!
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Syrilla on May 02, 2010, 10:47:06 AM
Thank you for all of the suggestion.  I have had and used the paper, oiled, "fabric" coated umbrellas.  And each year, even with water proofing, and re-coating, I have to purchase new ones.  I am in search of a good alternative.  I would love a leather on.  But know one seems to be able to make it, and make it a working one.  Even tho others will not know what is period or not, I do.  And I want to keep it the best I can afford.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Butch on May 02, 2010, 05:35:36 PM
Check this one out:  http://www.umbrellas.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=sfgsk11a-skyumbrella

Also, the Doorman II may be good.  Unusual looking, and not too much $
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on May 02, 2010, 06:01:37 PM
That's fun! The sword-hilted umbrella is silver underneath.

I liked this one (http://www.umbrellas.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=g30111af-peacock&Category_Code=AU&Product_Count=259) at that site:

(http://www.umbrellas.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/g30111af-peacock_thumb.jpg)

It would go with these folks:

(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/7547261/159065820.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on May 02, 2010, 06:15:17 PM
Ha!  Syrilla, I found it!!  I knew there was a woman who collects and restores antique umbrellas and rents them for weddings, etc, and after searching here and there since you posted, I've found her!  And even better, she now sells vintage reproductions, and they're lovely!  Pricey (no, seriously), but lovely:

http://www.bellaumbrella.com/

They're not Renaissance, of course, but they have an antique/romantic shape to them that I think would look lovely at Fair:

(http://www.umbrellas.net/images/Product/medium/5.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: BubbleWright on May 02, 2010, 06:21:07 PM
Once before I started going to Faire in garb, I visited PARF because because a co-worker was on cast. It was a very rainy day and I happened to have a beach umbrella in the car. It may not have been period, but many of the cast stopped to converse with me, taking some respite from the merciless rain under my portable roof.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: CapnFayeCutler on May 02, 2010, 06:21:32 PM
Quote from: Syrilla on May 02, 2010, 10:47:06 AM
Thank you for all of the suggestion.  I have had and used the paper, oiled, "fabric" coated umbrellas.  And each year, even with water proofing, and re-coating, I have to purchase new ones.  I am in search of a good alternative.  I would love a leather on.  But know one seems to be able to make it, and make it a working one.  Even tho others will not know what is period or not, I do.  And I want to keep it the best I can afford.

I'd say that after yesterday you'd have to buy a new one for sure. You still looked fabulous as always though! I think a leather one would be really nice, but how would you keep the leather from stretching and shrinking once it gets wet and then dry? I honestly don't know, don't work with leather much. :(
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Blue66669 on May 02, 2010, 11:24:26 PM
Well, after weather sealing your leather, you would want to make sure that your umbrella was dry before it was put away. It won't shrink or stretch if you remember to do that.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Adriana Rose on May 03, 2010, 09:20:41 PM
Quote from: BubbleWright on May 02, 2010, 06:21:07 PM
Once before I started going to Faire in garb, I visited PARF because because a co-worker was on cast. It was a very rainy day and I happened to have a beach umbrella in the car. It may not have been period, but many of the cast stopped to converse with me, taking some respite from the merciless rain under my portable roof.

We have a patio umbrella out side of my shop and a few years ago it was raining like CRAZY and one of the Royal Gaurds came and asked to borrow it for the Queen to walk to the joust. It was histarical to watch him march away with the HUGE umbrella
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Syrilla on May 03, 2010, 10:45:20 PM
I have drooled over bella umbrellas for a few years now.  One of these day I will just spend the money and get one.  Sigh.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on May 04, 2010, 06:10:56 PM
Use it for four years, and it's only a $24/year investment. Not bad, really. I think you owe yourself a present.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: GirlChris on May 04, 2010, 10:43:19 PM
Quote from: Adriana Rose on May 03, 2010, 09:20:41 PM
We have a patio umbrella out side of my shop and a few years ago it was raining like CRAZY and one of the Royal Gaurds came and asked to borrow it for the Queen to walk to the joust. It was histarical to watch him march away with the HUGE umbrella

Ha! That actually happened at one of my faires last year, except it was to protect the King AND Queen. Their majesties eventually took shelter in the pub, and the guard had a ball parading around the faire with the giant umbrella, giving assistance where needed.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Anna Iram on May 06, 2010, 10:37:31 AM
Quote from: Syrilla on May 02, 2010, 10:47:06 AM
Thank you for all of the suggestion.  I have had and used the paper, oiled, "fabric" coated umbrellas.  And each year, even with water proofing, and re-coating, I have to purchase new ones.  I am in search of a good alternative.  I would love a leather on.  But know one seems to be able to make it, and make it a working one.  Even tho others will not know what is period or not, I do.  And I want to keep it the best I can afford.

One last thought, if leather seems too expensive or too much bother, perhaps make a cover made from vinyl or oil cloth. Something not a permanent part of your parasol, but that can be kept folded in a pouch and tied on when the weather turns. Could be a fun experiment. Paint it or bejewel it...maybe?
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Butch on May 06, 2010, 03:07:29 PM
That umbrellas dot com site has three different flowers, and one palm tree.  Any of those would be neat, especially for a fae or sprite.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: iain robb on May 07, 2010, 05:56:27 AM
Quote from: Butch on May 06, 2010, 03:07:29 PM
That umbrellas dot com site has three different flowers, and one palm tree.  Any of those would be neat, especially for a fae or sprite.

Not quite period, but definitely cool, as you say, for a fae or sprite. Heck, I might even get one of the palm tree ones. That way, the aliens won't be able to spot me here in Florida when it's raining. I could probably even line it with foil ...
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Syrilla on May 07, 2010, 12:11:29 PM
gem, where did you get a bella umbrella for $24.  They are over $80 on the websites.

I have used the patio umbrellas, I just hate to make anyone carry around one of those things.  It is HEAVY, and if the wind gets un-wilding.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on May 07, 2010, 01:35:01 PM
No, I meant that you could spread the investment over the lifetime of the umbrella.  If you *only* use it for four years, then it's $24/year (the brown one I posted is $96). Push that to ten years, and $9.60/year... which is probably what you're paying every year for a new paper parasol.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: LordPaulet on May 12, 2010, 03:31:54 PM
MUST HAVE MINT GREEN PAGODA UMBRELLA!!!!
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on March 23, 2011, 05:35:19 PM
I'm bumping this up, because I've just stumbled across a Threads magazine tutorial on recovering an umbrella!

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/10563/how-to-recover-an-umbrella

(I got my local quilt shop's weekly newsletter, and this week's focus is Amy Butler laminated fabrics... and one of the featured projects is, you guessed it, an umbrella! I saw that and did a double take. Some quick Googling turned up this link!)
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: gem on March 15, 2012, 10:37:52 AM
Another bump, because I've found a less expensive reproduction umbrella. This one is from a UK merchant, but even at 15 British Pounds + overseas shipping, has to be a better bargain than the Bella Umbrellas were going for.

http://www.museumselection.co.uk/edwardian-parasol-prod6037/

(http://www.museumselection.co.uk/images/products/large/6037.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: isabelladangelo on March 15, 2012, 12:25:18 PM
Gem, you might also want to look for antique parasols and umbrellas where the fabric just needs to be recovered.  I'm in the process of recovering an 1880's/1890's parasol right now.  I also have a lovely mid 19th C one that I'm considering recovering but the fabric only has one VERY large hole and -with the fabric placement- it still provides too much information about how these parasols were covered to really take it apart, yet.   

I won a lot on ebay of four antique parasols for $40 not too long ago.  This way, you can use your own fabric to match your outfit.  For a real umbrella at fair, I typically just use my "Sistine Chapel" one.  The Sistine Chapel is period.  :-)
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: sealion on March 18, 2012, 08:58:18 AM
Here's some info on reproducing period umbrellas/parasols: http://www.screentanning.com/Parasol_Handout.pdf

I plan to try both versions since I wear both Roman and late period Italian. :)
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Anna Iram on March 18, 2012, 09:25:57 AM
Awesome link, Sealion.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: iain robb on March 19, 2012, 03:13:11 PM
Wow, that is good resource.

Yet another thing to make for my wife ...
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Orphena on August 31, 2012, 11:39:42 AM
Late to the party, but I found these:  $35?

http://www.amazon.com/Parasol-Style-Wind-Resistant-Premium-Umbrella-Red/dp/B004P4Y3AA/ref=pd_sbs_a_2

http://www.amazon.com/Parisian-Pagoda-Parasol-Umbrella-Greatlookz/dp/B003UHBLRG/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1346345982&sr=8-25&keywords=lace+parasol

May want to change out the handles - but that has to be easier than changing the fabric!
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: shades on August 21, 2016, 10:45:31 PM
This message has been deleted by Trillium as spam! shades's post count has been reduced by 1.
Title: Re: Looking for "period" umbrella
Post by: Tom on August 31, 2016, 08:55:53 AM
shades has been banned! :)