January 12, 2009

Paper Umbrellas and Old Photographs

Image may contain: 2 people

The oiled paper umbrella been made in Fujian since the ancient days. Tung oil was the original oil used to make the paper more lasting and water proof.

Umbrellas have been used for weddings, funerals, wars, and of course to keep out the rain and the sun.

In South East Asia, some very good photographs consist of the subjects of umbrellas.

There is a saying among the Foochows that the rich carry good umbrellas and the poor torn umbrellas. So more or less for years a good umbrella was a status symbol. A man without an umbrella and having to borrow one also indicated that he was poor.

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Sharing with you some nice pictures indicating the use of umbrellas through out the ages in China and elsewhere.

My paternal grandfather Tiong Kung Ping never went anywhere without his paper umbrella.

The paper umbrella is a good item for self defence.

Actually in the 1940's until the arrival of cars in Sibu, the paper umbrella was a personal necessity.

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