Hair, wigs and wig wearing in eighteenth-century England
This thesis explores the period of prominence experienced by wigs and wig wearing in England from the late seventeenth to the latter decades of the eighteenth century. Its primary focus is the âraw materialâ from which wigs were made: human hair. Being produced from a part of the body placed wigs in a unique position as fashionable items. The act of âmakingâ a wig entailed taking a natural entity growing on the head, and turning it into an intrinsically unnatural artefact. âWearingâ a wig meant for the wearer to invest time in shaving or cutting his own hair. Questions about why this became such an important and fashionable practice are explored here by starting with the hair itself, a topic not generally considered by the extensive literature on eighteenth-century wigs and wig-wearing. My thesis highlights the diverse functions a wig could fulfil, by presenting hair in the context of eighteenth-century understanding of medicine and the body. These functions included protecting the wearer from the elements and potential contagion, projecting a more healthy or youthful appearance, and marking status or profession. This thesis considers how hair - as part of the body - became a highly desirable commodity,
Markiewicz, Emma
GT Manners and customs
Hair, wigs and wig wearing in eighteenth-century England. This thesis explores the period of prominence experienced by wigs and wig wearing in England from the late seventeenth to the latter decades of the eighteenth century. Its primary focus is the âraw materialâ from which wigs were made: human hair. Being produced from a part of the body placed wigs in a unique position as fashionable items. The act of âmakingâ a wig entailed taking a natural entity growing on the head, and turning it into an intrinsically unnatural artefact. âWearingâ a wig meant for the wearer to invest time in shaving or cutting his own hair. Questions about why this became such an important and fashionable practice are explored here by starting with the hair itself, a topic not generally considered by the extensive literature on eighteenth-century wigs and wig-wearing. My thesis highlights the diverse functions a wig could fulfil, by presenting hair in the context of eighteenth-century understanding of medicine and the body. These functions included protecting the wearer from the elements and potential contagion, projecting a more healthy or youthful appearance, and marking status or profession. This thesis considers how hair - as part of the body - became a highly desirable commodity,
hair wear eighteenth_century england explores period prominence experience wear england primary_focus raw_material make human hair produce part body place unique position fashionable item act make entail take natural entity grow head turn intrinsically unnatural artefact mean invest time cut hair questions become_important fashionable practice explore start hair topic generally_consider extensive literature eighteenth_century highlight_diverse function could fulfil present hair context eighteenth_century medicine body function include protect element potential project healthy appearance mark status profession considers hair part body become_highly desirable commodity