An antimacassar/ˌæntɪməˈkæsər/ is a small cloth placed over the backs or arms of chairs, or the head or cushions of a sofa, to prevent soiling of the permanent fabric underneath.[1] The name also refers to the cloth flap 'collar' on a sailor's shirt or top, used to keep macassar oil off the uniform.
Design of a cloth antimacassarArmchair with antimacassar-Sheffield Mayors ParlourAntimacassars on rail carriage seats
Macassar oil was an unguent for the hair commonly used by men in the early 19th century, and reputed to have been manufactured from ingredients purchased in the port of Makassar in the Dutch East Indies. The poet Byron called it "thine incomparable oil, Macassar".[2] The fashion for oiled hair became so widespread in the Victorian and the Edwardian period that housewives began to cover the arms and backs of their chairs with washable cloths to prevent the fabric coverings from being soiled. Around 1850, these started to be known as antimacassars. They were also installed in theatres, from 1865.
They came to have elaborate patterns, often in matching sets for the various items of parlour furniture; they were either made at home using a variety of techniques such as crochet or tatting, or purchased. The original antimacassars were usually made of stiff white crochet-work, but in the third quarter of the 19th century they became simpler and softer, usually fabric embroidered with a simple pattern in wool or silk.[2]
By the beginning of the 20th century, antimacassars had become so associated in people's minds with the Victorian period that the word briefly became a figurative term for it. For example, antimacassars are suggestive of old-fashioned, Victorian-era women in Rebecca West's novel The Return of the Soldier.[3]
Antimacassars are also used on the seat headrests of commercial passenger transport vehicles, such as trains, buses and, especially, aircraft, to prevent the transmission of hair dressings and conditions between passengers, simplify maintenance, and extend the life of fabrics.
^ abOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Antimacassar". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 127.
^"a mob of female relatives who were all useless either in the old way, with antimacassars, or in the new way, with golf-clubs" —West, Rebecca (1918). The Return of the Soldier. The Century Co. p. 13.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antimacassars.
This article about furniture or furnishing is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
antimacassar, antimacassar, small, cloth, placed, over, backs, arms, chairs, head, cushions, sofa, prevent, soiling, permanent, fabric, underneath, name, also, refers, cloth, flap, collar, sailor, shirt, used, keep, macassar, uniform, design, cloth, antimacass. An antimacassar ˌ ae n t ɪ m e ˈ k ae s er is a small cloth placed over the backs or arms of chairs or the head or cushions of a sofa to prevent soiling of the permanent fabric underneath 1 The name also refers to the cloth flap collar on a sailor s shirt or top used to keep macassar oil off the uniform Design of a cloth antimacassar Armchair with antimacassar Sheffield Mayors Parlour Antimacassars on rail carriage seats Macassar oil was an unguent for the hair commonly used by men in the early 19th century and reputed to have been manufactured from ingredients purchased in the port of Makassar in the Dutch East Indies The poet Byron called it thine incomparable oil Macassar 2 The fashion for oiled hair became so widespread in the Victorian and the Edwardian period that housewives began to cover the arms and backs of their chairs with washable cloths to prevent the fabric coverings from being soiled Around 1850 these started to be known as antimacassars They were also installed in theatres from 1865 They came to have elaborate patterns often in matching sets for the various items of parlour furniture they were either made at home using a variety of techniques such as crochet or tatting or purchased The original antimacassars were usually made of stiff white crochet work but in the third quarter of the 19th century they became simpler and softer usually fabric embroidered with a simple pattern in wool or silk 2 By the beginning of the 20th century antimacassars had become so associated in people s minds with the Victorian period that the word briefly became a figurative term for it For example antimacassars are suggestive of old fashioned Victorian era women in Rebecca West s novel The Return of the Soldier 3 Antimacassars are also used on the seat headrests of commercial passenger transport vehicles such as trains buses and especially aircraft to prevent the transmission of hair dressings and conditions between passengers simplify maintenance and extend the life of fabrics References edit Fleming John amp Hugh Honour 1977 The Penguin Dictionary of Decorative Arts London Allen Lane p 26 ISBN 0713909412 a b nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Antimacassar Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 2 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 127 a mob of female relatives who were all useless either in the old way with antimacassars or in the new way with golf clubs West Rebecca 1918 The Return of the Soldier The Century Co p 13 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antimacassars nbsp This article about furniture or furnishing is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This decorative art related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about textiles is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This textile arts article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antimacassar amp oldid 1219877895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
