Modern Luzhou Red Oil-paper Umbrella with Stretchers Covered by Colorful Silk Threads Picture 1

This is an oil-paper umbrella made in Fenshui town, Luzhou city of China’s southwestern Sichuan province. With a typical unadorned red canopy, on the inside of which there is the logo of State-level Intangible Cultural Heritage, this 32-rib umbrella has bamboo stretchers, a bamboo shaft, a white handle, hanging from which there is a Chinese-knot pendant, and a blue umbrella cover with floral patterns. The highlight of this item lies in the stretchers, covered with silk knit in rich colors including red, yellow, blue, pink and green, giving this umbrella an arresting visual effect.
Originated in late Ming and early Qing dynasty, Luzhou oil-paper umbrellas are known for the category of large umbrellas with bright red canopy. In its heyday, the umbrella-making industry in this place reached an annual output of 20 million from the more than 100 workshops involving more than 10,000 workers mainly from towns and counties including Lantian, Taian, Shawan, Fenshui, Mituo, Xiaoshi, etc. of Luzhou city. In 2008, Luzhou oil-paper umbrellas were listed in the “State-level Intangible Cultural Heritage” and were honored the title “living fossil of Chinese folk umbrella-making craftsmanship”.