It actually took two ladies at the museum to bring this to my attention. First when fishing through the textiles room with Mrs. Ralston, when I learned what an antimacassar was. And second, Miss Rosemary...(Ro' Ro' to we in the museum who work with her) who unlocked a closet door that was FULL of tabletop and bedding textiles! Of course Ro'Ro' knew exactly what they were and continued to enlighten me. I can't do too much without one or more ladies looking over my shoulder, which I'm thankful for, to ensure I get the details "just so". Here's a sneek peek at the antimacassars on display in the second floor tower room.
An antimacassar 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.
The name is attributable to Macassar oil, a hair conditioner and grooming agent made from coconut or palm oil combined with ylang ylang or other fragrant oils to perfume the product. Macassar oil was commonly used by stylish gentlemen in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The fashion for oiled hair became so widespread during this time that housewives began to cover the arms and backs of their chairs with washable cloths to preserve the fabric coverings from being soiled. Around 1850, these started to be known as antimacassars.
They came to have elaborate patterns, often in matching sets for the various items of parlor 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 with a simple pattern in wool or silk.
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