The Skeleton Bang

Just down the street from Mrs. Thompson who sold hair switches and medicated gloves in New York City in the 1880s, we find one L. Shaw, advertising in Cosmopolitan in 1888 who sold - hair switches and medicated gloves.

Her gloves were called Monte Cristo Medicated Gloves, which sound European and (thus) very fancy. Shaw also has something to liven up your hair with the ominous, rather troubling name of the Skeleton Bang.

The Skeleton Bang was patented by Louise F. Marshall of new York on November 15, 1887. Marshall called it "A Wig or Similar Article" and explained that her invention was false bangs which rested upon a non-slipping skeleton base of steel springs covered with cloth.

If they were anything like the ones shown in the drawing they look rather artificial.The lady in the picture looks like she is sporting a bunch of carefully trimmed cauliflower on her head. The Skeleton Bang sounds very uncomfortable, too. Imagine those steel springs on your forehead. But at least they weren't going to slip off.

You could also buy the Genuine Auburnine to turn your hair auburn, Turkish Rose Leaves to use as rouge for cheeks and lips, and the Empress Eugenie's Secret of Beauty, which was a "transparent enamel for the complexion." That might be useful in a craft project or over nail polish - not so good for the face, though.

In addition to the cosmetics available at L.Shaw's, she also had "the best French artists" standing by to cut and color your hair "any desirable shade." So, not green or purple, presumably. The French artists sound like they would be fussy and boss you around. I wonder what they thought of Skeleton Bangs?

In the ad above and at the left, from 1886, Shaw describes her shop as a Hair and Beautifying Bazaar complete with a "Gray Hair Depot." You could get "Spanish, Grecian or basket braids" and all manner of hair styles including "Art's Greatest Triumph," the Recamiere Coiffure. Shaw actually means to refer to Madame Récamier (1777-1849), a noted literary beauty of the early 19th century. Her portrait, on the right, was painted in 1802. But the ladies in these ads, with their Skeleton Bangs, do not look quite like this.

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I am thinking about writing up some more Victorian true crime, I haven't done that in awhile. Maybe we will have a mystery object on Friday, if I can find a good one for you. And I have a really funny Christmas anecdote from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, which I've been saving since last January - which I'll post nearer to the 25th.

Larger version of the Cosmopolitan ad from 1888 is here; the "Hair and Beautifying Bazaar" ad is from 1886 and the larger version of that is here.