Macassar Oil. An oily puff for soft heads. 15 - 15 May 1814
Hand-coloured etching | 36.9 x 26.1 cm (sheet of paper) (sheet of paper) | RCIN 810934
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A hand-coloured print of a hairdresser pouring macassar oil onto the head of a stout bald man who is seated in a chair. The hairdresser applies the oil to the man's head with a satisfied smile. The customer's gullibility or, perhaps lack of choice in being part of the show, is alluded to by the presence of a fool's cap with ass's ears in the bottom right. On the right, a woman looks into a mirror and is shocked to see that her hair is standing on end. A large box containing the following text appears at top left: 'Macassar oil, for the growth of hair is the finest invention ever known for increasing hair on bald places. Its virtues are pre-eminent for improving and beautifying the hair of ladies and gentlemen. This invaluable oil recommended on the basis of truth and experience is sold at one guinea per bottle by all the perfumers and medicine vendors in the Kingdom.' Inscribed in the plate: 316 / Pub[lishe]d May 15th 1814 by Thos Tegg No 111 Cheapside / Rowlandson Del
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Creator(s)
(publisher) -
Medium and techniques
Hand-coloured etching
Measurements
36.9 x 26.1 cm (sheet of paper) (sheet of paper)
35.2 x 24.8 cm (plate mark) (platemark)
Other number(s)
BM Satires : Catalogue of political and personal satires preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum ... 11 v. in 12. – BM Satires 12405Bibliographic reference(s)
BM Satires : Catalogue of political and personal satires preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum ... 11 v. in 12. BM Satires 12405