Often
when we see pictures of our "founding fathers" their hair appears
white and carefully styled. This is because gentlemen in the
eighteenth century wore wigs. Here we stand inside the King's Arms
Barber Shop looking out onto Duke of Gloucester
Street.
In
colonial days the wigmaker was also known as a perukemaker, from the
French word "perruque" meaning wig. From the display in the window it
is apparent that wigs came in many different styles. Which one would
you choose to wear? Might you have one for work and another for
parties?
Wigs,
like so many personal items, were custom-made to fit the buyer. To
construct the wigs, which could be made from thread, horse, yak,
goat, or human hair, the wigmaker used a head of wood called a
blockhead. Thus, to insult someone's intelligence, you might call
them a "blockhead."
The
colonial milliner was a merchant of imported clothing and fabrics,
fashionable household goods, and personal items. This was an
occupation open to women. A dress, such as the one seen here, would
be constructed by a mantua maker, usually contracted out through the
milliner's shop.