In August, I (Susan Calder)_wrote a blog post about Charlotte Bronte’s umbrella owned by my aunt in New Brunswick. Aunt Edith has been trying for years to get the umbrella to the Bronte museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire, UK. Her efforts have been stalled due to the umbrella handle being constructed of ivory, a banned substance.
A few days after the post, I was surprised to receive an e-mail from Julie Akhurst on behalf of the Bronte Parsonage Museum. My post had appeared in their Google Alert for anything remotely connected to the Brontes. Julie said the staff had read my account with fascination and remembered the case clearly. The person who was dealing with it at their end left shortly afterwards and the correspondence lapsed susancalder/charlotte-brontes-parasol
Edith mentioned that she came from a village near Haworth, home of the literary Bronte sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne. Some 100 years ago or more, Edith’s aunt came into possession of an umbrella owned by Charlotte Bronte. She passed the umbrella down to Edith.
susancalder/charlotte-brontes-umbrella/
Here’s Aunt Edith’s explanation:
My parents were born in Oxenhope, a village connecting to Haworth. My grandparents and aunts lived there. Auntie Eleanor (b. 1899-d. 2001) had the Bronte parasol given to her by the Bronte housekeeper. I don’t know when that was but Eleanor was quite young. In the mid 20th century she gave it to my sister Anne who lived in R.I. U.S.A. After Anne died in 2004 I inherited it.
The Telegraph & Argus very belatedly (at least on the website) reports the donation of Charlotte Brontë's parasol to the Parsonage.
A silk parasol that belonged to Charlotte Brontë has returned ‘home’.
And its arrival at the Parsonage Museum has fulfilled a long-held dream for 96-year-old Edith Calder, whose family emigrated to Canada from Oxenhope – together with the parasol – in 1927.
For years she had wanted the item to head back to the one-time family home of the Brontës, but the parasol was wrongly thought to have an ivory handle and therefore couldn’t be imported.
However, a new assessment showed the material was in fact bone, and paperwork was quickly processed to transport the prized object back to the UK.
It is now on display in Charlotte’s old bedroom.
“We can’t thank Edith enough for her generosity gifting us this precious family treasure,” said Professor Ann Sumner, executive director of the Brontë Society and the Parsonage Museum.”
The parasol – in dark brown, fringed silk – passed to Mrs Calder’s family after it was given to an ancestor by Martha Brown, the Brontës’ maid, as a token of thanks.
Brontë Society chairman, Sally McDonald, said: “Thanks to Edith Calder, we can reflect on what an extraordinary journey this parasol has made across oceans and back. We are delighted visitors to the museum and society members alike can all enjoy this special story.”
A silk parasol that belonged to Charlotte Brontë has returned ‘home’.
And its arrival at the Parsonage Museum has fulfilled a long-held dream for 96-year-old Edith Calder, whose family emigrated to Canada from Oxenhope – together with the parasol – in 1927.
For years she had wanted the item to head back to the one-time family home of the Brontës, but the parasol was wrongly thought to have an ivory handle and therefore couldn’t be imported.
However, a new assessment showed the material was in fact bone, and paperwork was quickly processed to transport the prized object back to the UK.
It is now on display in Charlotte’s old bedroom.
“We can’t thank Edith enough for her generosity gifting us this precious family treasure,” said Professor Ann Sumner, executive director of the Brontë Society and the Parsonage Museum.”
The parasol – in dark brown, fringed silk – passed to Mrs Calder’s family after it was given to an ancestor by Martha Brown, the Brontës’ maid, as a token of thanks.
Brontë Society chairman, Sally McDonald, said: “Thanks to Edith Calder, we can reflect on what an extraordinary journey this parasol has made across oceans and back. We are delighted visitors to the museum and society members alike can all enjoy this special story.”
What a great story!! Thanks for posting it!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThere's a difference between a parasol and umbrella.. Both terms are used in the article, I'd say .this looks like a parasol
Oxenhope, is right next to Haworth of course
Auntie Eleanor (b. 1899-d. 2001) had the Bronte parasol given to her by the Bronte housekeeper
Martha died in 1882 so I gather someone else in the Brown family gave it to Eleanor, perhaps one of Martha's many nieces who got it from Martha or another one of the 5 original Brown daughters as most of them worked at the parsonage on and off and could be considered "the house keeper" , Martha of course being the most constant one
When Patrick died in June of 1861 ,they had the big sale of household items in Oct Such personal items like this were not included . I can't see Arthur allowing that ...most of the clothing and such items like this were given to the Brown daughters. They got a great deal...for who else was there?
I image this was for Charlotte's use in London..only because it would be very likely blown to bits in Haworth!! ...a relic of Charlotte's travels, like the trunk she and Emily took to Brussels which was given to a Brown daughter in 1861 because she liked the interior paper!
The very delicacy of this item helped to persevere it for us today imo.. From the start it would be understood as too dainty to be used for "make do" unlike other Bronte items. I believe one of Charlotte's dresses was altered and used by a Brown niece as a little girl !
The black color is of interest too and could have been used during morning as part of Charlotte's London gear. Its doll size is sweet too. Charlotte must of been very cute under this lovely parasol...much like a fairy under a mushroom!
Welcome back!