3-065-762 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The King of Ashantee's State Umbrella, 1874. War booty. 'The Ashantee war has yielded a trophy of Sir Garnet Wolseley's victorious arms in the state umbrella of his Majesty King Coffee Calcallee. This article was brought to England, a fortnight ago, by Lieutenant the Hon. H. Wood, 10th Hussars, aide-de-camp to Sir Garnet Wolseley. It was presented to her Majesty the Queen by Lieutenant Wood...An Illustration of this characteristic ornamental appurtenance of Ashantee Royalty is here engraved. Our readers do not require to be told that the umbrella is not for use, to keep off rain or sunshine, though shelter against both is needful in a tropical clime; but that it is an emblem of pomp and dignity, held over the King's head on all ceremonial occasions. Its material is velvet, partly dark crimson, partly black, with gold trimmings. The size is about 7 ft. in diameter. The umbrella has a number of appendages, cut of leather and cloth, with square and round knobs. These are fetish charms, to ensure the good luck of the Royal owner. A lion's claw, fastened to the ribs of the umbrella, inside and outside, is likewise a kind of charm or talisman. The umbrella was taken at Coomassie [Kumasi] on Feb. 4, when our troops entered that city'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.