A Very Gilded Age Gift

The newest fancy for a gift! – Not just roses or bon-bons, but a fabulous parasol or umbrella handle, made with fine jewels, was “a dainty, pretty conceit, and when mounted, quite suggestive of summer showers” according to those in the know of 1893.

Nice, and Rather Pricey

The newest fancy for a gift, hidden in a basket of roses or box of “bons,” is a jeweled umbrella handle with a round ball top of white or black onyx, studded thickly with sapphires, rubies, emeralds and rubies, or pearls and turquoises, or diamonds and chrysoprases.  

Accompanying the handle is a gold band for the name, and gold points for the tip of each rib, all laid within a box of ivory or ebony lined with velvet. This is a dainty, pretty conceit, and when mounted, quite suggestive of summer showers.—Boston Courier, 1893

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia Etiquette Encyclopedia