'The umbrella and the sewing machine') is the eighteenth studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Franco Battiato, released in 1995.

Following their collaboration in the 1994 opera Il cavaliere dell’intelletto ('The Knight of Intellect'), Battiato asked philosopher Manlio Sgalambro to write the lyrics for his next album; their professional partnership eventually lasted until Sgalambro's death in 2014.

[2] It was recorded between Battiato's house in Milo (credited as "L'Ottava") and Fonoprint Studio in Bologna.

[1][2] Among the musicians who collaborated to the album, were former Denovo's members Mario Venuti, Luca Madonia and Toni Carbone and Japanese soprano Hiroko Saito.

[1] The album and the lead single titles are based on a verse of the Isidore Ducasse's poem Les Chants de Maldoror.