Chinese Umbrellas - Appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship

Chinese umbrellas are used as decorative items more than as functional parasols to keep away sun or as shelter from the rain. They are sought-after worldwide as collector’s items for people that appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship of traditional Chinese culture. Modern-day collectors can order them online if they are not readily available in a local specialty shop.

Chinese umbrellas resemble modern "Western" umbrellas in their shape and design for the most part, but generally do not collapse and are never used in the rain. Their use was restricted to keeping the bright sun away from women, who were prized for their porcelain-white complexions. They can also look like a traditional Japanese umbrella.

The umbrella frames are fashioned from native bamboo and have many stems that branch out from the handle. The paper that is stretched across these stems can be dyed different colors or have tradition Chinese writing and images printed on the beforehand, which lends to the beauty of the parasol umbrellas.

Some Chinese umbrellas have scalloped edges, which is a nod to the level of craftsmanship that is involved in producing just one. These unorthodox umbrellas are much more difficult to make than a symmetrical round umbrella. Most of them have finished edges consisting of tautly-wrapped bamboo which adds to their rigidity as well as their appearance.

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Shade from the sun with Japanese Paper Umbrellas
Like the Chinese, Japanese paper umbrella producers use only natural materials when making their umbrellas and each one takes several months’ time to complete due to the separate rigorous processes involved. There are several different kinds of craftsmen that are active in producing each umbrella including woodworkers, paper specialists, and artists.

Chinese Paper Umbrella - Traditional Style
Just as if they were made in historic China, the umbrellas are crafted lovingly by village artisans and require months of preparation for each umbrella produced due to the hand-crafted specialized techniques. The Chinese artisans that retain the traditional skills required to construct Chinese paper umbrellas are proud to carry forth the skills and artwork that go into their design.