I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets an idea about something she wants in her house and dives head-first into making it happen. Such is the case for me with having an umbrella/cane stand in my foyer and then, naturally, filling it with antique umbrellas and canes. I don’t have a foyer or an antique stand for umbrellas and canes, but that hasn’t stopped me from picking up a few when I’m out and about and seeing them at reasonable prices.
So, my mom and I have been hitting up some of my favorite antique malls and stores around south central PA, western Maryland, and the Northern VA area. (You can find a post about my favorite “honey holes” from when I lived in this area five years ago HERE and HERE.) It’s been fun to connect with some of my old buddies from the antique community and to start putting feelers out for things on my wishlist. But, I am sad to report, that some of my favorite places aren’t what they used to be. I imagine that the pandemic has taken its toll and I’m sure there are a variety of other forces at play. As I continue to check out old and new places, I will let you know which ones rise to the top as my favorites. It is good to be back on the east coast, though!
So, back to antique umbrellas and canes.
I’ve always liked seeing them beside a front door, in a mudroom, or in a foyer. There is something welcoming about them and I love how they reference a time when every gentleman carried a cane and women shaded themselves with parasols when strolling in the sun. It’s a time when you walked more and dressed smartly. I enjoy sweatpants and wifi, so it’s not that I want to go back to that formality, but it’s nice to have reminders of it.
I noticed a lovely antique umbrella stand when I was photographing a traditional home in Minnesota (you can see more photos HERE) for my book Feels Like Home.
We used a few of the antique canes as props for some shots in their mudroom.
This is the style of umbrella stand that is my favorite for antique umbrellas and canes…
Photo via Shabbyfrenchvintage on Etsy
But, they are pretty pricey online, so I’m hoping to find one at a local antique store or something that has the same vibe.
Here are a few pictures of displays of antique umbrellas and canes that I just love…
Photo via @unionwillow
The cames above are in a large vase, which looks great.
photo via @tale_victoria
The stand above holding antique canes and umbrellas looks to me like it might’ve been a mortar shell or some other large ammunition shell, which is a pretty clever repurposing.
photo via @number131
I love this antique milk can…
photo via @number131
This blue and white chinoiserie stand is also lovely. There really are so many options and things that can be repurposed, so I’m just going to keep my eyes open. These are the antique umbrellas and canes I found while out and about last week…
I don’t really know how to articulate what I’m looking for in antique umbrellas and canes, but I know it when I see it. It has a patina, a softness and wear to it. It’s interesting and has a story, even if it’s one that is unknown. It’s been loved enough to make it past attic clean-outs without ending up in a dumpster. And, simply, I just like it. It speaks to me.
I also bought a set of three antique bamboo canes, but those are in the storage unit.
These antiques can get pretty expensive, especially in online listings, and if you’re looking for something pristine. I’ve paid between $10-25 for all of the umbrellas and canes I’ve found so far. They are just decorative, so I don’t care if they are perfect.
I love the handle and tassel on this one. I can imagine a woman’s gloved hand clutching it, the tassel genty tapping on her wrist as she walks down the street.
My mom and I are going to hit a few more places this week and I’ll let you know what I find!
Does anyone have an umbrella/cane stand by their door?
Mine is a copper coal scuttle with a blue and white porcelain handle that I bought in Normandy many years ago.
Mine is a big 5 gallon crock. Your umbrellas and cane are beautiful!
Mine is a basket stand. It also holds wooden walking sticks from Germany with small medals on them from different locations. So fun!
Mine is a large ceramic vase and instead of canes I have vintage croquet mallets in it.
I started collecting antique canes and couple of years back. I also love antique yardsticks. Enjoy reading your blog.
We have an old old milk can from my husband’s family dairy farm here in NJ that we use for umbrellas by our back door to our mud room. You were very lucky to find an old umbrella in that good a condition they are rare finds. And we use other milk cans for plant stands out on the property. Some are painted others we left in their natural state.
I have a mortar shell my uncle brought home after serving in WW1. He had it engraved with my grandmothers initials. My grandparents had 13 children and my mother was the baby. There was a big gap in the children’s age’s . I love old bamboo canes.
You always have such interesting blog posts!
I have a milk can from my grandmother’s farm. My Dad was a farmer. I’ve held onto it-waiting for inspiration on now to use it.
I also have a bunch of iron skillets I need to start using.
We’re all waiting with anticipation for your next home!
I’ve always wanted a barley twist legged table. Just after “the one” got away, I saw an patinaed oak barley twist cane stand with the lidded glove box. It is one of my favorite pieces and encouraged my husband to collect more canes. Right now the canes and umbrellas are up in the attic, since my toddler grandsons consider them to be excellent light sabers. I’ve had this stand about 30 years, it’s the perfect piece to sit by the door in front of the huge air intake without blocking the airflow.
I found a beautiful painted umbrella stand on Facebook Marketplace a few months ago. Originally $149 on Wayfair, I only paid $20! But I had nothing to put in it! I’m still on the lookout for umbrellas and canes, but for now, it holds my collection of antique yardsticks and a couple of rustic walking sticks.
I am on pins and needles to see where you guys end up and can’t wait to watch you turn another house into a warm and cozy home for your family.
Mine is a large chinoiserie vase I snagged from the foyer of my Grandma’s house when we were clearing out her things. It’s a precious item now used to capture plastic bags to be recycled.
I recently purchased 25 canes from an estate sale, ($5 each)
and they are beautiful!! The owner collected walking canes
I have them displayed in an old ceramic umbrella stand by the front door entrance way
I look forward to reading your blog everyday!
I inherited a lovely antique umbrella stand some years back. It was on loan to my mother who filled it with canes I’d inherited from a barn rummage. Her home burned to the ground in the big fire in 2017. Her entry was on the second floor; the umbrella stand dropped from the second floor to the ground. Only one large piece broke off the top, but it is still standing and looks solid from one side! It was the only thing popping out from the ashes. I have it outside just now, not sure how to repair/repurpose.
In the mean time, I have a new stand in cream and brass. I am on the hunt for new canes and umbrellas. I have an old cane handle rummaged from same barn, but no bottom with it. I popped it on a dried bamboo stick and voila. I also received a Mary Poppins inspired umbrella that while not an antique does serve as a reminder that a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down. (Or an escape into blogland full of pretties.)
For the last few months I have been on the stick as my New Zealand friend would say. I have a chinoisere tall vase sitting by my front door looking sad and empty. Now I know what to do with it. I have three wooden canes and one has two metal bands with initals on each band. I also have a modern flashy one that I use mst often. Thank you for the inspiration. No one ever uses our front door and hallway…………..
I have a cane/umbrella stand in my foyer and it is filled with old canes and umbrellas. The stand is teal ceramic. Not antique, but I’ve had it for more than 20 years. Some of the canes belonged to my parents, grandparents and great grandparents. There was one my dad bought in Alaska and brought back to me. He somehow convinced the flight attendant that he needed it to walk to his seat. This was about 30 years ago. I don’t imagine they would allow a brass tipped cane on board a plane now. I also have a walking stick that came from a wood carver who lived on top of Grandfather Mountain, NC. It is carved into the face of a pirate and we call him Peg Leg Pete! I hope you find a good home for your collection soon.
My umbrella stand is an old metal shoppers wheeled cart from France which I purchased at auction for $60. I love it and didn’t really want to pay that much for it but I did have some competition at the sale.
In all my years of antiquing I don’t think I have ever noticed old umbrellas…canes, yes but not umbrellas. I will have to start noticing!
The fabric of that large umbrella reminds me so much of the fabric of an antique dress my sister and I found in a Victorian farmhouse my mother’s two bachelor uncles were living when I was three. I still can’t believe my mother allowed us to play in this dress and two others until we ruined them. One was white voile with tiny rosebuds that was totally Gone With the Wind. All were floor length. The one made of the plaid fabric was very fitted in the tiny bodice with long sleeves and had a myriad of covered buttons.
Since I found your blog I just love all your posts. You have very interesting
comments and the one about letting go of things has given me such inspiration
to move ahead with my life after becoming a widow and a huge downsizing move.
So much stored items that need to find new homes–now I have the mind set
to see them go. Thank You!
Marian, I have one that belonged to my mom. It’s ceramic with a lovely Italian motif. I have it in our mud room. Good luck on your search.
Why, yes I do! I have an antique French iron hall tree (1880) with enameled boot trays, which has a rail meant to hold umbrellas and canes. However, I have a white ceramic jug next to it with the canes and umbrellas because I keep my Wellies in my side of the boot tray. The husband keeps his flip flops in the other side. Only fair to give him half, don’t you think?
Yes. Mine is a brass “umbrella”, standing partially open, handle up. It holds vintage umbrellas and child-sized brollies for my grandkids.
I have a newer white painted cast iron umbrella stand filled with walking sticks found along paths in the woods I’ve hiked with my kids or sticks that my Dad made after Hurricane Charley went through the town he lived in and did a lot of damage to the trees on his property. Your examples of the canes and umbrellas and their holders are beautiful, but the lowly branches turned into walking sticks suits me better.
I have a large green pottery vase with a grape cluster relief on it I found at a second hand store by my front door outside. It spoke to me about our wine-growing legacy. Just waiting for it to rain in California so it can be filled with wet umbrellas when visitors come over.
We need pictures of all these comments…I think we’d all like to see them!!!! Antique canes are so cool and I have a blue/white ceramic umbrella stand that I love!
I have a milk can from my dad’s dairy barn in Michigan that we use in the foyer for my husband’s cane collection. Years ago, I painted it white. Looking at your photos, I think I am going to re-paint it black! Thanks!
Both my husband and my late grandparents had umbrella stands by the front door. I have looked for a faux bamboo style umbrella stand for the longest time with no luck. Just wondering if you had been to Antique Marketplace in Lemoyne, PA yet? I knew you use to frequent there often when you lived in the area. We would always stop there when we visited my sister and brother in law.
YES!!! Me do! Mine are in a VERY large McCoy vase…in your favorite green color with brown dip on the bottom. I picked this vase up about five years ago at Stepping Stones for $3.75!!!! Before I got it, I had them in a tall wicker basket. I love the look and have always had them by the front door. One of my favorite umbrellas has a handle impeded with rhinestones and a tassel. Amazingly none of the rhinestones are missing. And when the sun comes in the sidelight window the stones put on a show of color on the walls…..they sure don’t make them like they used to!!!
Mine is a beautiful tole painted piece we found while antiquing in Canada. I inherited my dads cane collection and have added a few more over the years. I’d love to find some vintage umbrellas with pretty handles. Can’t wait to see your collection displayed in your next home.
My hall tree slender, golden oak with a mirror, has a little plate with a c-shaped holder for umbrellas, I have filled over the years with lovely old umbrellas and parasols. 2 are silk very fragile but love them, lovely handles tassels and shredding silk fragments. I also have a real umbrella stand by door with canes and really usable umbrellas. Metal, chippy white with a removable bowl in bottom for raindrops! It really is a nod to the past!
I have an antique leather fire bucket with a cane my dad made with a small telescope on it. Love it. He used to make them from old antique parts and then would sell them. One of the many things he made and sold. This is the last of the Mohicans.
I inherited an antique umbrella from an aunt which stands with or modern umbrellas in an old painted cole basket in our hallway. The stick of the umbrella is metal decorated with a rose relief and the cloth is has flowered lining on the inside. I hope you will find more umbrella’s to fill your beautiful umbrella stand.
We will be driving thru Maryland on our way home to OH. I was wondering if you have any suggestions of cute towns that can’t be missed, restaurants, etc. We love entrepreneur type places that make a town special. We hike and bike too, so if you have any suggestions of things we don’t want to miss …would appreciate the tip. Thanks
I have an antique tree hall that has a seat with open arms on each side that are the umbrella stands. They have copper trays at the bottom to catch the rainwater. I really love it and have my father’s old hiking stick and an old frilly umbrella I purchased in Germany in the stand. I have a real foyer in this house and the tree hall has a true home now!
Growing up we had an Eastlake hall tree with umbrella/cane stands on either side that had recessed embossed metal drip trays and we used it all the time for our wet umbrellas; my parents expected antiques to be used in modern life. My aunt had an enormous brass one, about a foot across and waist high, that thing held a LOT! I have a collection of old plaid silk umbrellas that I pick up here and there if I find them in good condition.
It’s nice to hear from everyone’s posts that there are so many people who value and collect these utilitarian items!
Mine is a part of an oak hall tree (hooks for hats and coats) area for gloves. Instead of umbrellas, I have canes and antique baseball bats. My husband is a big baseball fan so it was a way to get him to go with me when I wanted to antique shop.
I bought a round brass one when I inherited my grandmother’s cane collection. Love it by my front door. I keep an umbrella there too for friends who visit and get caught in a rain storm.
Hi, I never comment…but I was just browsing on Everything But the House, and they have a stand very similar to that first picture. I’ve never bought anything from them and had it shipped (I’m local), but I thought I’d let you know! If you’re not familiar with them, they’re an online auction company. I think it was just listed, so should be available for a couple more days.
My umbrella stand is a basket from Pier I circa 1970’s which holds an assortment of canes, umbrellas and some plastic yard toys for grandchildren. One cane is very old, painted black. One is very new, from my husband’s knee replacement, and one is very sentimental. It’s a bamboo looking hefty piece with little metal icons tacked to it from a Boy Scout Jamboree in Japan he attended as a youth. That one holds our heavy wooden door open when we are wanting light into the foyer.
The umbrellas are mostly new, some broken, but saved for emergency use and shade cover for plants, but my vintage ladies’ umbrella hangs on a brass hook behind the door. It’s a taffeta-type fabric in gray, but the handle is a gold metal etched with fine floral designs. I bought it while a student in college from the lost and found. After so long in the lost and found, items were sold if not claimed.
The milk can from my grandfather’s dairy farm is in the kitchen holding a pothos ivy. This is a great post, Marian!