Umbrella with handle, anonymous, c. 1770 - c. 1780
By impregnating fabric with a water-resistant substance such as oil, it would protect against the rain. The technique was used for umbrellas, raincoats and awnings. This umbrella has an 18th-century Doorniks porcelain knob decorated with flowers. In the 19th century, older items – all or parts of them – would often be reused. This fitted in with the popular eclectic styles of the day.