The Colonial Williamsburg wigmakers sourced gray horsehair
Horsehair
Horsehair is the long, coarse hair growing on the manes and tails of horses. It is used for various purposes, including upholstery, brushes, the bows of musical instruments, a hard-wearing fabric called haircloth, and for horsehair plaster, a wallcovering material formerly used in the constr…
How did they make wigs in colonial times?
First, the wigmaker spread out a network of ribbons and netting called a caul and formed the inner part of the wig. The wigmaker then wove strands of hair together before stitching them in rows to the caul. Similarly, how much did a wig cost in colonial times?
What is the process of making a wig?
Making a wig was a time-consuming process. Teams of wigmakers worked for days to complete their products. First, the wigmaker spread out a network of ribbons and netting called a caul and formed the inner part of the wig. The caul was secured to a wooden dummy head called a blockhead in order to give it the correct shape.
What does a colonial wigmaker do?
What does a colonial Wigmaker do? The wigmaker used nails to attach a caul of ribbon and cotton or silk net securely to the blockhead. Rows of hair constructed by weaving a few strands of hair at a time on a tressing frame were attached to the caul with a simple straight stitch.
How are wigs made with Caul?
The caul was secured to a wooden dummy head called a blockhead in order to give it the correct shape. The wigmaker then wove strands of hair together before stitching them in rows to the caul. Once all the hair was attached to the caul, the wigmaker painstakingly curled the rows of hair by wrapping them around curling rods.
How did they make wigs in the colonial times?
The first wigs were made from goat and horse hair, and because they were never properly washed they smelled quite terrible, and tended to attract lice. To combat the unfortunate odor and unwanted parasites, the wig-wearer would "powder" his wig.
What materials did Wigmakers use in colonial times?
Wigs were made of horse, goat, or yak hair and skillful wigmakers could customize a wig to the preferences of the customer or to the styles popular in London.
What were colonists wigs made of?
The most desirable wigs were made from human hair--but usually, the wigs were made of horse, goat or yak hair. After the Revolutionary War, toward the end of the eighteenth century, powdered wigs (also known as Perukes) started to fall out of fashion.
What type of tools did Wigmakers use?
With a blockhead for every noggin, large and small, male and female, the wigmaker fashioned wigs for all occasions and clients. Made for him by a blacksmith, a caliper and chisels were among the cabinetmaker's tools.
How did they make wigs in the 1700s?
Wigs in the 1700-1800s were normally crafted using horse, goat, or human hair. According to historians, wigs made from animal hair were especially hard to keep clean and attracted lice. However, wigs were still seen as an attractive alternative to coping with a lice infestation on your own scalp.
Why did colonists wear white wigs?
Wigs were worn in colonial times to make class distinctions clear. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation explains that even the color of wigs could indicate class and position. Professionals frequently wore gray wigs; tradesmen usually donned brown wigs; white wigs were reserved for judges and military officers.
Why did they powder their hair?
Hair powder was originally used mostly as a degreaser. White haired wigs were popular because they were expensive and rare, and so men and women began (in the early 18th century) to use white powder to color their wigs and hair, as it was less destructive than dye.
Why did they wear white wigs in the 1800s?
While wigs were originally worn to hide effects of syphilis, donning a wig could be taken as a sign that the wearer was hiding not only visual effects of a disease, but perhaps deeper secrets as well.
What is used to make wigs?
Wigs of synthetic (e.g., acrylic, modacrylic, nylon, or polyester) hair are popular for several reasons. They are comparatively inexpensive (costing one-fifth to one-twentieth as much as a human hair wig).
How long does it take to make a wig?
The time to complete a custom wig is about 8 to 12 weeks. The wig making process takes so long because each strand of hair is hand-tied. This intricate process ensures more realism, as great care is taken to keep each strand uniform so that it lays just like the wearer's natural hair.
What does a wig maker do?
What does a Wig Maker do? Lays out, sews, and fastens together materials and hair strands to make wigs and transformations: Draws or pins wig pattern on model of customer's head. Places sections of gauze, lace, net, ribbon, and springs over pattern and sews sections together to form wig foundation [FOUNDATION MAKER].
How do wigmakers make wigs?
Teams of wigmakers worked for days to complete their products. First, the wigmaker spread out a network of ribbons and netting called a caul and formed the inner part of the wig . The caul was secured to a wooden dummy head called a blockhead in order to give it the correct shape. The wigmaker then wove strands of hair together before stitching them in rows to the caul.
What were wigs made of?
Materials. In the Colonial period, wigs were made from a range of different materials, from horsehair to goat hair. Light-colored horsehair was prized for its natural color, since light white or off-white wigs were fashionable.
Who was the first king to wear a wig?
According to tradition, the fashion of men wearing wigs originated with Louis XIII, King of France, who wanted to disguise the fact that he had gone prematurely bald. Seventeenth century wigs were large and heavy, but by the middle of the 18th century a smaller wig was the norm.
How long does a wig last?
A wig could last for several years, but it required periodic maintenance. Long-term wear could loosen hair or weaken the wig's curl. Hairdressers, some of whom were also wigmakers, would clean, recurl and trim wigs for their clients, keeping them neat for continued use.
How do wigmakers make wigs?
Wigmakers used "tressing frames" to create wigs, weaving the hair between three strings serving as a small loom. They'd then transfer the woven rows of hair to a head-shaped block molded to the client's measurements and attach it to netting pinned to the "blockhead." Once the wig was assembled, the wigmaker would style it using curling irons, pomades, and dyes, similar to how a modern barber or hairdresser might style actual hair after washing and cutting it.
How long did it take to make Colonial Williamsburg wigs?
Finally, they sewed the hair to the caul and styled it. The project took a total of 145 hours from start to finish.
What was Henry Bromfield's wig called?
The project revealed just how much work Colonial wigmakers had put into each wig. Bromfield's wig was a "bagwig, " which means its tail was encased in a black silk or satin bag, or "bourse," as shown in the photo above, topped with a large black bow. This was considered a formal wig accessory; for more casual wig wear, Bromfield would have removed the bag and worn it with just a bow.
Who was the last Bostonian to wear a wig?
It had belonged to a Boston man named Henry Bromfield. Prior to the American Revolution, Bromfield had done business in London as a merchant before returning to his home in Massachusetts and living there until his death at the age of 92. Bromfield was reportedly the last Bostonian to continue wearing 18th century fashions long after most people had moved on to more modern styles. His wig, stored in a coconut, was to be part of a Massachusetts Historical Society exhibit called "Fashioning the New England Family," but the curators weren't sure how to describe the wig. They reached out to the wigmakers at the Colonial Williamsburg Wig Shop (shown above), who traveled to Boston to examine the wig.
What was the style of the Colonial era for wealthy men, particularly those with leadership positions in the government, to wear?
It was the style of the Colonial era for wealthy men, particularly those with leadership positions in the government, to wear intricate, expensive wigs.
What was the wig industry in the 18th century?
Hygiene was a pressing issue in the eighteenth century, and the wigmaker supplied unguents, powders, and remedies for body odors, dirty hair, lice, and other ailments. Both men and women used wigs. Some were dignified; others were playful and silly. Woman’s wig with frigate based on a print source; it is mounted on a wig stand.
How long did it take to make a wig?
Betty notes that a single wig could take up to a month or more to make, but with more staff working on multiple tressing frames, a wig in the eighteenth century might take a week. When possible or when worn frequently, wigs were maintained every week or two, and new wigs were generally made for a customer every four to five years. The implicit understanding was that these products had a limited shelf life that guaranteed the wigmaker would have repeat customers. Of course, this market also depended on wigs remaining in fashion.
What is the chemical used in wig dye?
Wigs required maintenance and good care. Many ladies and gentlemen owned wig stands for their wigs or kept them in boxes. Within limits, a skilled wigmaker could reshape the wig and color it to the client’s specifications as fashions changed or the owner aged. For making wig dyes, workers used a variety of coloring agents from animal and vegetable sources to heavy metals such as lead, mercury and even arsenic. The latter were toxic to vermin.
Why were wigs important?
Wigs were generally expensive products. In a period during which social roles were marked visually, wigs enabled a person to signal their wealth, occupation, and attention to fashion. This social signification made wig making an indispensable trade for some people.
What is the shop of the wigmaker?
The shop of the wigmaker was modest, but contained plenty of display wigs, showcasing the range of clientele these tradesmen might service. Although a great deal of the work of making wigs is done below stairs or away from the shop front, we were able to see the basic instruments and tools for producing the braided hair needed to construct the body of the wig. The tressing frame was portable; Betty referenced making wigs as easily on her couch at home as in the shop.
Why are wigs not included in museum culture?
Betty concluded her discussion by remarking that wigs and wigmaking are rarely included in museum culture, to the detriment of historians interested in the trades and fashions of the past. From liveried slaves to elite patrons of society, wigs contributed to the visual landscape of colonial American society.
What was the final component of a wig?
Curling irons, dyes, powders, and pomades were the final components in dressing the wigs, much as a barber or hairdresser would curl and dress the hair on a person’s head. Wigmaking was a low-impact activity, requiring the maker to remain stationary for a long period of time.
