A close-up of the cast-iron frame on the chair. Photo / Supplied
A close-up of the cast-iron frame on the chair. Photo / Supplied
Working with and caring for museum collections involves many daily, weekly and monthly tasks to ensure the wellbeing of the objects held in the Museum's custody.
Recently, while checking for items requiring conservation treatment in Whangarei Museum, one particular object stood out among the others in showing desperate need of preservation.
Easily distinguishable by its stature, the antique barber's chair with worn leather upholstery and cast-iron frame is reminiscent of a bygone era of masculine barbershops and the ancient profession of male hair grooming.
The chair was donated to the museum in 1974 by Mr Jim Alison, the only known history of its origins recorded at the time of acquisition being that it came from a barbershop somewhere on Kamo Rd, yet the exact location and shop owner's identity are unknown.
Produced by Archer's Manufacturing Co, Rochester, New York and patented on May 21, 1878, this adjustable barber's chair, padded with straw lining, was described at the time as being well upholstered with tasteful ornamental gilding and of the most handsome design.
The antique chair was donated to the Museum in 1974. Photo / Supplied
Although searching early accounts of barbers operating in Whangārei from the 1880s, most situated in Cameron St, staff have been unable to find any such establishment in operation within the Kamo Rd vicinity.
Barbering is one of the oldest trades known to man and involves the art of cutting, dressing, styling and shaving men's hair, beards and moustaches dating back millennia.
The word 'barber' comes from the Latin word 'Barba' meaning beard, but during the early 1900s a barber was alternatively called a 'chirotonsor'.
Some of the earliest evidence of this trade are among razors found in Egypt from 3500BC made of oyster shell and sharpened flint, proving that even in ancient times personal hygiene and appearance was important.
When barbering was introduced into ancient Rome, all free men were required to be clean-shaven, while slaves were forced to wear beards, consequently, the name 'barbarians' was used to describe bearded tribes.
In the past, barbers also worked as dentists and surgeons, often specialising in leeching, fire cupping and bloodletting, a common treatment for a variety of maladies from sore throat to the plague.
Known as barber-surgeons, they also undertook additional tasks such as tooth extractions, setting bones and treating wounds, and at one stage were higher paid than surgeons.
Advertisement for Archer Manufacturing Co Barber chairs from the 1880s. Photo / Supplied
The origin of the "barber's pole" derived from Europe. Featuring red, white and sometimes blue spiralling stripes, these posts were positioned outside nearly every barbershop advertising their wares.
The colours were meant to represent the different aspects of the trade, with red representing blood, blue symbolic of veins cut for bloodletting and white representing the bandages used to stem the bleeding.
The pole itself symbolising the staff given to customers undergoing phlebotomies to squeeze, making the arm veins stand out more prominently for the procedure.
As history progressed, barbers reduced the medical side of their work, focusing solely on hair cutting and shaving.
As a part of the daily traditions, barbering became the forefront for social gathering, debates and gossip among male society.
Times have certainly changed and although the 19th century barber's chair in the Museum's collection is showing its age, it is not beyond repair.
Hopefully, with much needed funding, expert conservation treatment and the public's help, it may continue to survive and the full story of its origins may yet be uncovered.
■ Natalie Brookland is collection registrar, Whangarei Museum at Kiwi North.
