The Foldable Umbrella

Not only are there various claimants for the invention of the “foldable” umbrella, but the terminology itself is varied - the expressions of foldable, collapsible, pocket, compact , telescopic, fold-up mostly refer to it being able to be carried in a small satchel, or indeed a pocket. Further, dates of claims also depend on when patented or when patent sold or relinquished.

Early European umbrellas were crafted together from wood and a form of oiled canvas, until the mid 1850s when the steel ribbed umbrella design was created by Samuel Fox.

A foldable or ‘pocket’ umbrella was developed in Hungary by the Balogh brothers, whose patent appeal was admitted in 1923 by the Royal Notary Public of Szombathely. Their patent would later also be approved in Austria, Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Great Britain and the United States.

The birth of the “Knirps”

Then, Hans Haupt from Solingen, Germany had been injured in the WW1 and, subsequently, wasn’t able to carry his walking stick and his umbrella at the same time. Thinking about a possibility to put an umbrella into his pocket, he equipped it with a telescopic frame so he could push it together into a handy format. In 1928, he applied his invention for a patent and the “Knirps” eventually became a synonym in the German language for small foldable umbrellas

The ‘Flirt’ Umbrella

Also, in 1928 in Vienna, a student studying sculpture at the Akademieder Bildenden Kunste Wien (Academy of FineArts) named Slawa Horowitz, created a prototype for an upgraded compact foldable umbrella which she patented on 19 September 1929.While foldable umbrellas were known, Slawa’s invention was an improved compact version.

Women inventors were unusual at this time, and worthy of mention. Slawa’s invention was noted in newspapers (Neuigkeits-Welt-Blatt Wien) when it was displayed at the Vienna Spring Fair in the Inventor’s Pavilion in 1931: ‘and the Flirt - magic umbrella of the sculptress - the sculptress Slawa Horowitz, who has invented a magic umbrella that can be folded small enough to put in a bag…’

Slawa’s successful invention was owned by her and produced by the Austrian manufacturers Brüder Wüster for 9 years, until, in 1938, following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany (the Anschluss) she, her husband Karl Duldig and her baby daughter Eva fled Vienna forever, eventually arriving in Melbourne. In 1939 as a Jewish non-resident she was forced to sell her patent to the firm which had produced it.

The Duldig Studio Melbourne holds her her original designs, a number of these prototypes as well as patent documents and letters associated with its sale.

A wide interest in umbrellas in all countries

For instance, a conservation project, in Leeds UK., involves more than 230 umbrellas and parasols being documented and catalogued by students working with curators from Leeds Museums and Galleries. They include a pink silk parasol from the 1850s and a black umbrella with a hand-carved Indian ivory handle. One can follow this website so as to be ready when items are online to view the beautiful umbrellas.

Leeds Museum and Galleries: UK

Umbrellas have uses in religious situations

Roman Catholic’s use an umbrella known as the umbraculum or ombrellino, which is held over the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

In numerous Oriental Orthodox Churches, umbrellas are used liturgically to show respect to an individual (such as a bishop) or a holy object.

In Buddhism as a sign of respect, an ornamented parasol is escorted over relics and statues of Buddha and scriptures of the Buddhist doctrine