A valuable Western-style umbrella made during the Meiji period

Hello.
The other day, three new Western-style umbrellas arrived at Komiya Shoten.
All of them are valuable items that were made more than 100 years ago, and have a different atmosphere to modern Western umbrellas.



This time, the craftsmen at Komiya Shoten will introduce these umbrellas from an umbrella craftsman's perspective.



These are domestically produced parasols that are thought to have been manufactured in the late Meiji period.
It has deteriorated significantly over the years and is no longer usable as is, but the maker's thoughts and new discoveries are alive in every aspect, including the small parts and tailoring.



It is said that the processing methods have remained almost unchanged since Western-style umbrella making began, but when you look at how the individual needlework and sewing techniques are still firmly maintained today, you can see that it is not that they have not changed, but that an unchanging certainty has been established since back then.



The world of manufacturing is one in which tradition and innovation are required, but this also shows us exactly what must not be changed, which is a sobering experience.



Although they were made and sold domestically, English writing can be seen here and there, and one can get a glimpse of the desire for imported Western umbrellas, which had been difficult to obtain until then. How could Western umbrellas that were imported from Europe be made domestically?
The passion of the craftsmen at that time, filled with this feeling, is immeasurable.



The Western-style umbrella ribs made by Torakichi Kono (1858-1915), who was the first person in Japan to successfully manufacture U-shaped grooved ribs (groove ribs), are (estimated from the KH initial mark) extremely sturdy and appear to be very luxuriously made, even today when domestic production is almost impossible.



The plate design embedded in the frame, which is believed to be from a wholesale manufacturer, is reminiscent of the trademark of Fox Umbrella, a long-established luxury British umbrella manufacturer.

Rather than imitation, one can sense pure admiration and ideals to strive for, and it is astonishing to think that the ambitions of craftsmen at that time were global in scope.



The user's attachment to the item is clearly apparent, with patches being used to cover holes in the pure silk fabric and the owner's name being inscribed on part of the center pole.





What kind of products do we aim to create, and what do we want our customers to feel?
This has become a valuable historical document that has made me aware of this fact once again.

This is currently on display at the Komiya Shoten shop.
Please come and see it for yourself.