This Victorian gents' umbrella has a rustic treen burl/burr handle. The burl has been skilfully hand-carved into the shape of a man's head with original sharp glass eyes wearing a top hat. Below the handle is an ornate black cord tassel and a brass collar.
''A burl (American English) or burr (British English) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds. Burl formation is typically a result of some form of stress. Burls yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood sought after in woodworking, and some items may reach high prices on the wood market.'

There is a metal shaft and frame that holds an original black silk canopy with a maker's stamp to one of the spokes:
'Paragon Patent No. 420709
S. Fox & Co.
Made In England'
For the renowned umbrella frame makers:
'Samuel Fox & Co'
‘It was in 1848 that Samuel Fox, a wire drawer by trade, started to make solid steel ribs in Stocksbridge, near Sheffield.
Fox was a master wire drawer and it was this skill in the production of fine-quality wire that he turned to the production of umbrella ribs.
Samuel Fox continued improving and developing his ribs over the next few years when his son William Henry Fox joined the company around 1913 and around this time adopted the trademark 'Paragon'.’


The shaft ends in an original metal ferrule.

A unique & charming umbrella, suitable for use or a collector.

Measurements:
Length - 92.5cm
Diameter of handle - 5.4cm
Diameter of shaft - 0.7cm
Width of canopy - 103cm
Weight - 506g
 
Very good condition with a few light use marks.
Please scroll down the centre of the listing for description, photos and measurements - contact details are at the bottom of the page