Birth of the Auto Tilt Umbrella

The auto tilt umbrella and modern outdoor furniture as a whole have only been around for little more than a century, but the concept of patio umbrellas dates back to ancient times with a rich past that spans the globe. Though maybe thought to be a boring topic, patio umbrellas held a coveted place in palaces and protected early man.

Early Man

The word umbrella comes from the Latin “umbra,” which means shadow. The very first umbrellas were a far cry from the auto tilt umbrella; simple canopies were made from the branches of banana trees. Most likely, early man was inspired by the natural umbrage given by trees during the hotter parts of the day and during rainstorms, during the time when man would rest from hunting and gathering. Animals, especially those living in the desert know all too well the vital importance of having shade.

Beginning Design

It was between 1100-1200 BC in China or Egypt that we first saw the very first designs of the modern umbrella. Not long after, in ancient Greece and Rome umbrellas were used to protect against the sun, while Roman women first invented the idea of stronger and practically waterproof umbrellas by oiling cloth canopies to create a seal.

The Significance with Women

Not just a Roman anomaly, in Greece, women became associated with the use of parasols, and one would be carried over the statue of Dionysius during festivals, while another was used to honor the Pallas Athena. The connotation with women and umbrellas eventually led to the practice of women carrying feminine parasols around as a fashionable accessory.

Status Symbol

In a lot of cultures, an indication of privilege was the appearance of fair skin, and in ancient Egypt a sign of nobility. The royal court took the umbrella concept and modified it into parasols that would keep their skin from tanning. In Assyria, solely the king was allowed to carry around an umbrella.

In China, umbrellas became elaborate and ornate affairs reserved for royalty. The unique thing about ancient Chinese umbrellas was not necessarily their size but their tiers. The Emperor was said to have four tiers on his. Better than that though was the King of Siam’s nine-tiered parasol. This mayor may not be a very rough precursor to the dual wind vents so popular in oversized golf umbrellas.

The First Patio Umbrellas

During this time, outdoor umbrellas more similar to the recognizable patio versions began appearing throughout Egypt, Assyria, China, Greece and India, evidenced in artwork of the time. Sculptures depicting patio umbrellas were found in the archaeological digs sites of such cities as Nineveh, Persopolis and Thebes.

Religion

According to religious belief, umbrellas symbolized fertility, harvest, death and rebirth. The Egyptian goddess Nut was compared to an umbrella because of how her body covered the earth. In the Middle Ages, parasols were accepted as a part of religious ceremonies, today called an ombrellino. The Pope at that time would carry one. Its origin stems from a brown and white umbrella first given by Constantine the Great, and a striped gold and red canopy umbrella is shown above the cross keys of St. Peter. The church was actually quite influential in the spread of umbrellas through Europe, beginning in Italy.

English Influence

When it reached England, the umbrella exploded in popularity. And it was not for shading like you would find with the auto tilt umbrella. Rather, the British appreciated the invention because of their notoriously rainy weather. Patio umbrellas could be seen outside coffee shops between 1685 and 1705 to protect their patrons. The first specialized umbrella store was called James Smith and Sons. Open since 1830, they still operate out of their store in London. As umbrellas evolved, Samuel Fox is credited with inventing a steel ribbed umbrella in 1852 out of the remnants of women’s corset stays. In 1885 William C. Carter patented an umbrella stand, and thus paired with the steel ribbing, the modern patio umbrella came into being.

Modern Times

The auto tilt umbrella followed soon after. Initially, it operates and opened manually, but in the last few decades the automated models were developed and perfected. Among them, the collar tilt and shade-dial each have different mechanisms. The advancements of outdoor umbrellas have fallen closely in line with the overall demand for modernized and chic patio furniture.