Wikinventia — Atlas of discoveries and inventions · Exploration Age

Folding umbrella — Jean Marius

1710 AD · Transmission: Global
TechnologyInventionFrench

Jean Marius, a Parisian pouch-maker, obtains on 1 January 1710 a five-year royal privilege for his invention of the "folding pocket parasol-umbrella" — the parapluie brisé — a waterproofed green taffeta umbrella on a metal frame folding into three sections that could be stored in a pocket case. During his five-year monopoly, all umbrellas manufactured in France had to bear his mark. The Palais Galliera in Paris preserves two original examples from after 1715. Larger folding umbrellas had existed in Asia since antiquity; Marius's contribution is the portable miniaturization for individual use in Europe.

InstitutionCourt of Versailles / Paris workshop
Historical regionFrance (Paris)
Primary sourceRoyal privilege of Jean Marius, 1 January 1710. Palais Galliera, Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris — Marius umbrella collection (pre-1715)
Secondary sourcePalais Galliera — "Marius-system umbrella" (collection record); Bonjourparis.com — history of the French umbrella
Original languageFrench
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