The Pathein Umbrella
The umbrella industry of Pathein, the capital of the Ayeyarwaddy Division of Myanmar's delta
region, is well known in Myanmar. This cottage industry was established in
Pathein over a hundred years ago. The first umbrellas were made of paper, in the
course of time and experience; the makers became innovative and began to produce
umbrellas with canopies of cottons, silk and satin with attractive floral
designs. These newly fashioned umbrellas gained popularity with the ladies and
sales expanded to the whole country. The umbrella attracts foreigners to buy as
souvenirs or for interior decoration on walls and for use as unique lampshades.
The production of the Pathein umbrella is more or less a family industry, and
there is division of labour in the making of a single umbrella. Each worker is
assigned a different task, with one responsible for making the framework of ribs
and another the shaft, with still others making the canopy, the grip, the
ferrule or the hub which holds the ribs together, and even the wedge or switch
for opening and closing the umbrella. Each person works separately and is a
specialist in his own line of work.
The shaft and ribs of the umbrella are made of bamboo and the ferrule and grip from softwood
locally known as "Ma-U Thit". The raw material
s of bamboo and wood are obtained
from the lower hill slopes of the Rakhine Yoma Mountain Range near Chaungthar,
which is close to Pathein.
When all the different parts made by different craftsmen are ready, they are put together to
make an umbrella. Then the canopy, dyed in pastel shades of mauve, pink, green
and blue to deflect the sunlight, are attached to the frame, but there are a few
darker shades too, such as black, dark blue and bottle green. When the canopy
has been fixed to the rib
frame, small flowers of varying shapes and colours are
painted on the background colour. The wonder of it is that many different parts
made by different hands all fit so snugly together, that one is able to open and
close the umbrella smoothly without a hitch. Once the umbrella is folded then a
small bamboo ring wrapped in
coloured wool thread and attached with the same
thread to an indentation on the grip, can be slipped on to keep the umbrella
tightly closed. The bright and colourful Pathein umbrella seems to enhance grace
and charm to Myanmar feminine beauty. Pathein umbrellas in all sizes and colours
are readily available in any market throughout Myanmar, and since it does not
take up much space when neatly folded, it would be ideal for foreigners to buy
this lovely item as a gift for someone special.
