Name/Title
Hairdressers pinching ironEntry/Object ID
2025.1.573Description
Iron scissor-type instrument with flat circular pads which when heated are pressed together by means of the handles.Context
"The pinching iron or papillote iron was heated, first, with coals from the fireplace. Next a strand of strand of hair was selected and rubbed with pomade. The strand was then curled around a finger and wrapped in a triangle of tissue paper. The curl was heated by pressing it with the flat ends of the papillote iron. This process was repeated until all the strands of hair that need curling had gone through the process.
When the hair was completely cooled, the papers were pulled off and the result was the corkscrew curls so familiar to us who love the Regency era."
(Ref; An Illustrated Dictionary of Hairdressing and Wigmaking, James Stevens Cox, 1984, Batsford.)Acquisition
Accession
2025.1Source or Donor
Gordon DempsterAcquisition Method
TransferMade/Created
Date made
circa 1700 - circa 1800Time Period
18th CenturyDimensions
Length
280 mmDiameter
50 mmCircumference
170 mmWeight
549 gDimension Notes
Diameter refers to the width of the pad; Circumference refers to the pad.