The Museum of the Umbrella is in Gignese, just a few minutes from Stresa and from Meina. Visitors to this unique place in the world surround themselves with the elegant and cute world of umbrellas, and also with the stories (not always with happy endings) of its players – the umbrella makers – and their Tarùsc jargon, which in the same manner as a primitive Esperanto, united them and allowed them to understand each other regardless of their nationality.
Brief history of the umbrella
The birth of the umbrella is quite old, and the history of its origins is lost in legend. The only indisputable data is its Asian origin, but it’s not certain which country it was invented in. Both China and India claim responsibility based on good reasons and have more or less credible proof to uphold them. One common element is associated with the symbology of the umbrella: from the beginning, it was undisputedly tied with power and at times is attributed to the divinity. In China, the ceremonial umbrella was always depicted among the Emperor's emblems, in Persia the use of the umbrella was only granted to kings, while in Egypt it was extended to all nobility.
The arrival of this accessory in the West falls under the mythological sphere and is associated with Dionisyan cults, but also with celebrations dedicated to goddesses Pallas and Persephone, during which believers (prevalently female) protected themselves with a parasol.
It was introduced to the Roman world in the 3rd-century BC and was celebrated by several poets of the times. However, in the classical and catholic medieval world, the umbrella was a simple tool for seduction in the first case, or an accessory used in lithurgy in the second, but it did not perform its current function of protecting against the rain.
The exhibit at the Museum of the Umbrella in Gignese
The display cases on the ground floor show the stylistic transformations of the umbrella from the 19th century to date, and include some 150 pieces accompanied by covering material and handles made with different material.
The historic documents are on the upper floor: fashion magazines, proof of the use of this elegant object, stories and photos of umbrella makers and the tools of the trade.
The history of the Museum of the Umbrella
Iginio Ambrosini, founder of the Alpinia Botanical Garden and also the son and brother of umbrella makers, may rightfully be considered the father of the museum, which was opened in 1939 on the first floor of the elementary schools in Gignese. 37 years later, it was transferred to the current building in the shape of 3 ajar umbrellas. The current mounting (now 25 years old) is about to be replaced by an innovative project carried out by the city in collaboration with the Region of Piedmont and with the Association of Umbrella Makers.
Photo gallery Museum of the Umbrella
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