What is the earliest reference made to the first waterproof umbrellas?
First WATERPROOF UMBRELLA
The first WATERPROOF UMBRELLA are listed in an inventory of the moveable effects of King Louis XIII of France made in 1637. The entry refers to: ‘Eleven sunshades in various colours, made of taffeta. Three umbrellas of oiled cloth, trimmed underneath with gold and silver lace’. This is the earliest-known instance of the sunshade, used by ancient civilizations, being distinguished from its counterpart, the waterproof umbrella. Neither the King, nor any of his male courtiers, is likely to have carried one of these decorative trimmed umbrellas, but it is quite probable that King Louis’ beautiful Queen Anne of Austria, went abroad under a protective canopy of oiled silk, setting a style that was to be followed assiduously by the women of France.
