Wig, Barrister's

Object/Artifact

-

Law Society of Ontario

Name/Title

Wig, Barrister's

Entry/Object ID

2024.1.1

Description

Off-white/grey curly forensic wig. Fabric weave interior and netting acts as a frame. Fitted in a black metal wig case with gold trim.

Acquisition

Accession

2024.1

Source or Donor

Weir Foulds

Acquisition Method

Gift

Source (if not Accessioned)

Weir Foulds

Notes

Credit Line: Gift of Messrs Weir & Foulds 1972 Gift Barrister's wig. Belonged to and used by George Ferguson Shepley in the early 1900s while a member of the firm Macdonald, Shepley, Middleton and Donald. Other items, 218a and b, were donated by another member of Weir Foulds (Toronto law firm of which Shepley was a partner). (985.058).

Made/Created

Notes

Date made: [190-?] Date: [190-?]

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

George Ferguson Shepley was Treasurer of the Law Society from 1913-16.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Wig, Barrister's

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Costume, Legal

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Regalia

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Status Symbols

Nomenclature Class

Personal Symbols

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

ARTIFACT, Wig, Barrister's

Legacy Lexicon

Class

Personal Symbol

Category

8: Communication Artifact

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

French

Other Name

perruque d'avocat

Other Numbers

1606

Number Type

Former Accession number

Other Number

29758 (system number)

Number Type

Former Object ID

Other Number

203

Number Type

Former Object ID

Other Number

M & M # 28

Dimensions

Width

15.9 cm

Depth

38.8 cm

Width

6-1/4 in

Depth

15-1/4 in

Materials

Material

Horsehair

Material Notes

Material not verified.

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

George Ferguson Shepley

Related Entries

Notes

Related to item 2024.1.2

Web Links and URLs

More information on Weir Foulds

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Unlike in Britain, wigs have not been commonly worn as part of court dress in Canada. Canadian portraits of barristers and judges dated to the mid 1830’s and earlier do occasionally showcase bewigged heads, but the trend appears to have diminished after this period. The Law Society of Ontario was established in 1797 by young lawyers, who may not have regarded wigs as fashionable. Provincial standards differed across the country, but wigs were usually either optional or outright banned. Elsewhere in the world, some barristers and judges remain partial to wigs, preferring the anonymity it affords and the dignity of the courts it signals. Shepley likely wore this wig for appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which heard appeals to decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada until 1933 (criminal) and 1949 (civil).

Research Notes

Notes

Barrister's wig. Belonged to and used by George Ferguson Shepley in the early 1900s while a member of the firm Macdonald, Shepley, Middleton and Donald.

Notes

George Ferguson Shepley was Treasurer of the Law Society from 1913-16.

Notes

Record of donation Minutes of Convocation vol. 41, 233.

Research Type

History

Notes

Item was donated by Weir Foulds, a Toronto law firm. Weir Foulds was formerly Macdonald, Merritt, Shepley and Geddes. Shepley became a partner in 1883.