Parasol

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

While this parasol is beautiful and of the highest quality, the handle is of particular interest and must be noted. Made of coral, it is intricately carved with fascinating imagery, especially the somewhat grotesque male face that contrasts with the playfully entwined puttee at the top. The ivory stick is made to resemble a bramble and the knots are emphasized with coral color. Coral handles, such as this, were commonly made in Italy.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art