Origin of the umbrella

The basic umbrella was invented over 4,000 years ago. We have seen evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artefacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China.

These ancient umbrellas or parasols, were first designed to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use as rain protection. They waxed and lacquered their paper parasols to use them for rain.

The word "umbrella" comes from the Latin root word umbra, meaning shade or shadow. Starting in the 16th century the umbrella became

popular in the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe. At first it was considered only an accessory suitable

for women. Then the Persian traveler and writer, Jonas Hanway (1712-86), carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for 30 years, he popularised the umbrella use among men.

English gentleman often referred to their umbrellas as a "Hanway."

The first all umbrella shop was called "James Smith and Sons". The shop opened in 1830, and is still located at 53 New Oxford Street in

London, England. The early European umbrellas were made of wood or whalebone and covered with alpaca or oiled canvas. The artisans made the curved handles for the umbrellas out of hard wood such as ebony and were well paid for their efforts.

In 1852, Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed umbrella design. Fox also founded the "English Steels Company", and claimed to have invented the steel ribbed umbrella as a way of using up stocks of farthingale stays.

The first umbrellas were for protection from the sun and were possibly inspired from the canopy of a tree, which would offer a cool shade from the heat of the day.

The origins of the umbrella are most probably China in the 11th century B.C. although ancient sculptures have been found in Nineveh, Persepolis and Thebes (Egypt) depicting the use of umbrellas. There is also evidence of umbrellas or parasols being used at the same period in India.

The first umbrellas were most

probably a converted branch of a tree (for example giant banana leaves) or a hat on a stick, which gave rise to the umbrella, as we

know it today.

The word Parasol was derived from the Latin words papare, which means to prepare, and sol, which means sun. Generally a parasol is now regarded as a sunshade and umbrella as a rain protector, but this

distinction only evolved during the late 18th century. Before then umbrellas and parasols both offered protection against the sun, but

that parasols were carried over the person it shaded rather than an umbrella, which was carried by the person it shaded.

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