Victorian Parasol Handle

Description

This is a very lovely parasol handle. Mother of Pearl and gilt over brass. American. These parasol handles are so collectible. Some of them were in repousse sterling silver or gold. Most were in mother of pearl. The parasols were made of silk which does perish over time. As the handles were usually quite valuable, nobody would throw them out. Consequently they became collectible. There is a museum in Paris just for such handles. I have seen some used as magnifier handles to go on good desk tops.