Featured Vintage Parisian Silk Umbrella with Dog Head- Help Decipher Maker?

Good Morning All,
I have an old black silk umbrella with an intriguing carved bulldog head handle. It has glass eyes, brass-studded leather collar, and buckle, fur trim, the works. The old silk is deteriorating so I can't open it all the way to decipher the maker's label inside the crown. Does anyone recognize the name? Not even sure if it begins with an "A". Paris and "5" are all I can be certain of. I found a similar on eBay, but no relevant information on it.
This https://www.ebay.com/itm/1942294284...pid=5338596370&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1 . Thanks for any leads!

 

Looks more like a chihuahua.

Your item may have come from here ...
http://paris1900.lartnouveau.com/paris00/gds_magasins/gds_magasins_louvre.htm

 

Does yours mouth open up as well, like the one on ebay does?? Figure that might be adding to that value......but sadly, no more info on it either!

 

NO, it's just a nicely carved handle. All the other similar ones have been walking sticks.

 

Thought I saw something similar on eBay France.

Debora

 

No guesses as to what that label says? Me neither....

 

Certainly could read "Louvre."

Debora

 

See my post above.

 

I was referencing your post.

Debora

 

Brilliant, both of you. That's it! Thanks!

 

Darkwing, I am not seeing a lot of age in these. I looked at the dealer's other items in the link you provided and seems these dogs with "real fur" around the neck are suddenly way too common. I don't think the fur would hold up very well on these canes, yet each one I saw, the fur was very intact. I suppose it could be refurbished, but then again, there's more than one of these for sale atm. I wish you the best to sell it, I know it will sell!

 

Thank you antidiem. My estimate is 1920s or 30s. Apparently, the bulldog was a fashionable form at one time for handles. The style of the fur, leather collar and brass studs is rather distinctive, and I have found only that one other example. The umbrella is a friend's old family item... a minor Met Opera singer, her sham royalty husband, and world travelers. We have debunked a number of their "heirloom" stories, but it's fascinating, none the less.

 

LOL the stories it could tell! It actually looks like German Shepard fur to me!
The guy selling a massive amount of canes on ebay is interesting...

 

Does look like an old insect had a chew at the handle and the sawdust droppings are still available!



https://www.etsy.com/listing/115506...+head+umbrella&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&pro=1&frs=1




I've not gone down this search before, yours is nice. Could the fur be an addition? It's not practical to have fur where the hand holds the umbrella. Same with the fur cane. Not sure how the fur could have held up perhaps it has been replaced?

I LOVE your truth about your acquisition of this piece! Makes me think it has merit, thanks

 

I expect it was a souvenir, a novelty or a gift, and never left the rack. That would explain the pristine condition. This was not a family that re-furbished things, on the contrary. It's actually rather disturbing looking, even for me.

 

There are a number of similars floating around the internet, either umbrella/parasol handles or cane tops. One on eBay France was marked Galeries Lafayette so solid upper middle class provenance. Suspect they were a fad at one point for this type of carving. I would think Edwardian. Certainly doesn't look any later to my eye. The "fur" appears to be boar, the same material used for antique shaving brushes.

 

Love the owl!!

 

Impractical, but cool! Form over function!

 

Funny, I think it would be very easy to hold.

Debora