Un Peruquier (wigmaker)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored etching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 × 8in. (30.5 × 20.3cm) Other (plate alone): 10 3/4 × 7 3/4in. (27.3 × 19.7cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,13A

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "71"
Lower margin reads: "Un Peruquier./ Ein Peruquenmacher./ 1. Une peruque à la Cavaliere. 1. ein alonge Peruque. 2. une bourse à Cheveaux. 2. ein haar/ beitel. 3. une peruque pour accomoder. 3. eine Peruque zum accomodieren. 4. une bourse à peruque 4. ein Peruquen Stock. 5. peruque à deux boucles. 5. ein zuggel Peruque. 6. un peigne. 6. ein Kam 7. Etau/ à tresser. 7. der Trekier Banckh. 8. des Ciseaux 8. scheren. 9. un seran. 9. eine hechel. 10. fac à poudre. / 10. ein haar ?uder Sackh."
Label TextMartin Engelbrecht’s mid-18th century publication on trades included both a male and female illustration of each trade or profession in creative ways. Though they represent the tools that tradesmen used and the products they produced, they were meant to entertain elite audiences rather than inform about the labor involved in these trades or professions.This print represents an idealized version of a wig-maker. He carries the tools and products of that trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) Une peruque a la Cavaliere (a wig for the gentleman); 2. (around neck) une bourse a Cheveux (a sack for lose hair); 3. (on stand at right hand) une peruque pour accomoder (a wig to adjust); 4. (stand at right hand) une tete a peruque (a head for wigs -wooden); 5. (in left hand) peruque a deux boucles (wig with 2 curls); 6. ( in right hand) un peigne (a comb); 7. (at waist) Etau a tresser (vice to plait hair); 8. (at waist) des Ciseaux (2 scissors); 9. (at waist) un seran (flax comb); 10. (at waist) sac a poudre (sack for powder).

This print is from a series of 189 engravings consisting prints featuring depictions of tradesmen in the format known as composite figures, which are human figures made up of objects. Sometimes various accoutrements or tools are cleverly incorporated into recognizable garments or even replace body parts. Each plate represents different trades by trades men and women dressed with associated tools and products. They do not represent actual tradespeople nor are they meant to suggest that women participated in these trades, though in some cases they may have.They were designed by Johann Jacob Stelzner (1706-1780), C.F. Horstman and M. Rosler. They were etched by Martin Engelbrecht ( 1684–1756). The series was published in a compilation known as, From Martin Engelbrecht, "L' Assemblage nouveau des manouvries habilles or Neu-eröffnete Sammlung der mit ihren eigenen Arbeiten und Werkzeugen eingekleideten Künstlern, Handwerkern und Professionen," (Augsburg, Germany, ca. 1730).