Umbrella stand

An umbrella stand is a storage device for umbrellas and walking sticks. They are usually located inside the entrance of a home or public building, and are sometimes complemented by a hanger or mirror,[1] or combined with a coat rack.

Umbrella holder outside a store

The stand is used to hold umbrellas when they are not in use. In public spaces, their use is usually limited to rainy days when employees and visitors need to carry umbrellas.[2] Umbrellas can be closed and placed in the stand. They are usually dropped off upon entering the building and collected when leaving the building. This is useful because wet umbrellas may cause a wet floor, which could pose a hazard of slipping.[3]

Design
Household coat rack with umbrella stand in the base

A domestic umbrella stand is generally an upright container,[4] often a cylindrical tube,[5] stored near to the entrance of a house. In addition to acting as a functional piece of furniture, they can be aesthetic objects for decoration, and are manufactured from a wide variety of materials: clay,[5] plastic, metal, and wood.

Stands in public buildings are often designed to hold greater numbers of umbrellas, and may be constructed with separate spaces for each umbrella. Stands with locks are used in Japan, to protect umbrellas from thieves.[6]

Bag dispensers
Umbrella bag dispenser in front of the entrance.
An umbrella bag in use

A more recent variant of the umbrella stand used in modern retailers is the umbrella bag dispenser, which allows the user to insert the umbrella into a disposable waterproof bag when entering a building, and to carry that bag with them so as not to get the floors wet. This eliminates the need for a large umbrella stand, in buildings where storage space may be at a premium.

References
  1. C. J. Petersen (1 April 2008). House Beautiful: The Organized Home: Stylish Storage Solutions for Every Room. Hearst Books. pp. 222–. ISBN 978-1-58816-682-1. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  2. Nicolás Casas de Mendoza; Calleja y Compañía, Pablo (Madrid) (1868). Tratado de agricultura española teórico-práctica. Pablo Calleja y Compañía. pp. 210–. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  3. Andrew Bender; Wendy Yanagihara (2006). Tokyo. Lonely Planet. pp. 15–. ISBN 978-1-74059-876-7. Retrieved 26 February 2013. ..Umbrellas are intended for outdoor use and should not be dripping on the floors indoors. Please use the umbrella stand by the entrance..
  4. "Umbrella stand definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com.
  5. Kyle Husfloen (3 October 2007). Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2008 Price Guide. F+W Media, Inc. pp. 348–. ISBN 978-0-89689-531-7. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  6. "Japanese Umbrella Lockers". Picfair.com. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
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