Handvat voor een paraplu of parasol van zwarte kunststof c. 1910 - 1920

This is a handle for an umbrella or parasol, made of black synthetic resin, probably sometime in the 20th century. What makes it interesting is precisely that material. Before the rise of plastics, an everyday object like this would have been made of carved wood, or perhaps metal. The floral decoration at the end of the handle is suggestive. It gives this mass-produced object a whiff of handcraft. But in fact, the handle was probably formed in a mold, a process that allows for extremely efficient production. The use of plastic allowed for a far wider distribution of umbrellas, which had previously been luxury items. Next time you pick up a plastic object, consider the complex history that it represents: one of industrialization, democratization, and of course, environmental impact. This handle may seem like a small thing, but it opens up a whole world of questions about the relationship between design, labor, and consumption.