©2012 30" x 35" The prints in the 4-inch star and framed four-patch blocks remind me of colorful silk parasols. Parasols of all styles and sizes were an important accessory for Civil War ladies. Usually made from silk fabrics, they were intended to provide shade from the harsh southern sun, although some photographs show tiny parasols that seemed to be more fashion-focused than practical. "Carriage parasols" often had short handles that folded up for storage. However, when it rained, these dainty, fancy parasols were replaced by large, plain, black silk umbrellas. It’s been written that parasols were often the subject of humorous cartoons and articles of the time.
