An incredibly rare victorian umbrella, it has a warm bamboo stem and a silky dark canopy. The defining feature of this umbrella is its ornate, imported Anglo-Indian silver handle rendered in the "Swami" style. Decorated in repoussé and chased relief, with a series of arched panels with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati in motion, divided by bands of foliate ornament.
Originating primarily from the silversmiths of Madras, Swami silver is defined by its deep repoussé work depicting explicit Hindu gods and deities instead of the purely floral or animal-centric "Cutch" styles found elsewhere in India. This piece represents the peak of the late-Victorian fascination with the ‘exotic’.
There are visible signs of use and age, including small tears around the silk canopy and some minor chips in the bamboo stem near the metal catch that holds the mechanism up. While it is certainly not in pristine or new condition, the umbrella remains fully functional. It is ultimately at the buyer's discretion whether to enjoy it as a functioning piece or preserve it as a stunning historical showcase item. Ideally suited for an umbrella stand or displayed alongside a collection of Swami silver.
Frame architecture: One of the inner ribs retains its original dual plaques reading "Fox & Co Ltd" and "Paragon".
Metal composition: Tested and evaluated as high-grade silver (approx. 800 to 900 purity). Unmarked, which is typical of many authentic colonial-era export pieces from the region.
Dating to the late 19th-century. c.1890.
Please review our Shipping & Return Policies.
An incredibly rare victorian umbrella, it has a warm bamboo stem and a silky dark canopy. The defining feature of this umbrella is its ornate, imported Anglo-Indian silver handle rendered in the "Swami" style. Decorated in repoussé and chased relief, with a series of arched panels with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati in motion, divided by bands of foliate ornament.
Originating primarily from the silversmiths of Madras, Swami silver is defined by its deep repoussé work depicting explicit Hindu gods and deities instead of the purely floral or animal-centric "Cutch" styles found elsewhere in India. This piece represents the peak of the late-Victorian fascination with the ‘exotic’.
There are visible signs of use and age, including small tears around the silk canopy and some minor chips in the bamboo stem near the metal catch that holds the mechanism up. While it is certainly not in pristine or new condition, the umbrella remains fully functional. It is ultimately at the buyer's discretion whether to enjoy it as a functioning piece or preserve it as a stunning historical showcase item. Ideally suited for an umbrella stand or displayed alongside a collection of Swami silver.
Frame architecture: One of the inner ribs retains its original dual plaques reading "Fox & Co Ltd" and "Paragon".
Metal composition: Tested and evaluated as high-grade silver (approx. 800 to 900 purity). Unmarked, which is typical of many authentic colonial-era export pieces from the region.
Dating to the late 19th-century. c.1890.
Please review our Shipping & Return Policies.
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