Antique Japanese umbrella 'Kainu'

The paper umbrella painted with peonies and a butterfly

Open this umbrella and a whole painting unfolds overhead. Across a pale lavender paper canopy, peonies bloom in deep violet and soft green, their petals layered in the careful, washed style of traditional nihonga painting, while a dark branch winds between them and a single orange butterfly drifts at the edge. It's a parasol made to be looked up into.

The detail rewards a closer look: blue-green leaves shade from light to dark around the blossoms, the violet peony glows against the muted ground, and the butterfly adds a small, living spark of warm color. Painted onto the stretched paper, the scene shifts gently as light filters through from above.

This is a wagasa in the classic mold — a paper canopy stretched over a frame of fine bamboo ribs that radiate from a red-painted hub at the center. Held overhead, the ribs and the translucent paper turn the whole thing into a softly glowing dome of color and pattern.

It's made as a decorative and ceremonial parasol rather than a foul-weather tool: ideal for photography, traditional dress, weddings, tea gatherings or simply as a striking piece of display. Twirled on the shoulder, the peony scene becomes a moving work of art.

Built on a bamboo handle with an 80 cm canopy and a light 250 g body, it's crafted in the traditional way with an eco-minded approach. A painterly paper parasol for anyone drawn to the quiet beauty of classical flower painting.

Twirled slowly on the shoulder, the peony scene turns and shifts like a painting in motion, which is exactly why parasols like this are so prized for photography and traditional events. Treat it gently, keep it out of heavy rain, and the painted paper will hold its quiet beauty for many seasons of display and occasion.

• Traditional craftsmanship
• Bamboo handle
• 80 cm diameter
• Lightweight: 250 g
• Eco-friendly design