Why Do British Gentlemen Wear Wigs?
Why Do British Gentlemen Wear Wigs?
According to historians and folklorists, the tradition of British people wearing wigs dates back to around the 12th century. It was not limited to judges and lawyers; people from the upper class considered wearing wigs as a fashion statement for formal occasions or salon gatherings.
Experts point out that there is a distinction between the wigs used in the judicial system and regular wigs. In England, judicial wigs have three curls on each side, while members of the royal family have only two. Whether this represents a subtle metaphorical meaning is unknown. However, the Scots always like to tease the English, as in Scotland, the situation is reversed, with members of the royal family wearing wigs with three curls while judicial personnel have only two.
The production cost of wigs is expensive due to the labor involved, not the materials, as obtaining horsehair is not difficult. Wig-making is a delicate craft that cannot be mass-produced by machines or assembly lines.
Creating a wig requires a skilled craftsman to spend approximately 44 working hours, including weaving and curling. The finished product usually comes in four colors: white, golden blonde, light gray, and gray. In some of Britain's former colonies, such as West Africa and the Caribbean, white wigs are highly popular, while golden blonde and gray are more common in the UK.
A judge's wig typically costs over 1,500 pounds (around 18,000 yuan), and even the most ordinary wig is not priced below 300 pounds.
Most people would rather endure lice than change their wigs as frequently as women change hats. This is not because they can't afford to buy multiple wigs but based on a saying that the longer you wear a wig, the older and dirtier it becomes. The darker the color, the longer you have been practicing law. In the legal profession, experience and age hold great value, much like senior doctors in hospitals. From a certain perspective, an aged wig becomes a century-old establishment for lawyers to attract clients, while a judge's antique wig becomes a symbol of their extensive experience in the courtroom.
For a law school student who has obtained their qualification, the best gift from family or friends is a wig made by a renowned wig maker. Many wig craftsmen come from a long line of wig makers, even a family tradition that dates back longer than the genealogy of some British nobles.
Custom-made wigs are also a patiently awaited process, as the appointments with many renowned craftsmen are scheduled years in advance. Even if you can get an immediate appointment, the measuring process alone requires at least twelve measurements of your head, which is not an intentional hassle from the craftsmen but a requirement for exquisite craftsmanship.
Of course, you can buy a ready-made wig, but it's not as gentle as having one tailored to fit your head perfectly. Moreover, wearing a randomly bought wig is considered impolite by many legal professionals, akin to attending a formal event in casual attire. British people are known for their conservatism, especially in the judicial realm, where precision and even rigidity are emphasized, while personalization is of less significance.
Many renowned wig-making families keep records of every wig sold, requiring buyers to sign and register. Over the centuries, these records contain the autographs of many famous individuals, as numerous prominent politicians had previously worked as lawyers.
Taking care of a wig is also a meticulous task. Each set of wigs generally comes with a ventilated iron or wooden box, with some boxes even considered separate pieces of art that are more valuable than the wigs themselves. In the era when British people often had lice in their hair, wigs were sprinkled with powder to prevent infestations.
One final question related to China is that.
According to historians and folklorists, the tradition of British people wearing wigs dates back to around the 12th century. It was not limited to judges and lawyers; people from the upper class considered wearing wigs as a fashion statement for formal occasions or salon gatherings.
Experts point out that there is a distinction between the wigs used in the judicial system and regular wigs. In England, judicial wigs have three curls on each side, while members of the royal family have only two. Whether this represents a subtle metaphorical meaning is unknown. However, the Scots always like to tease the English, as in Scotland, the situation is reversed, with members of the royal family wearing wigs with three curls while judicial personnel have only two.
The production cost of wigs is expensive due to the labor involved, not the materials, as obtaining horsehair is not difficult. Wig-making is a delicate craft that cannot be mass-produced by machines or assembly lines.
Creating a wig requires a skilled craftsman to spend approximately 44 working hours, including weaving and curling. The finished product usually comes in four colors: white, golden blonde, light gray, and gray. In some of Britain's former colonies, such as West Africa and the Caribbean, white wigs are highly popular, while golden blonde and gray are more common in the UK.
A judge's wig typically costs over 1,500 pounds (around 18,000 yuan), and even the most ordinary wig is not priced below 300 pounds.
Most people would rather endure lice than change their wigs as frequently as women change hats. This is not because they can't afford to buy multiple wigs but based on a saying that the longer you wear a wig, the older and dirtier it becomes. The darker the color, the longer you have been practicing law. In the legal profession, experience and age hold great value, much like senior doctors in hospitals. From a certain perspective, an aged wig becomes a century-old establishment for lawyers to attract clients, while a judge's antique wig becomes a symbol of their extensive experience in the courtroom.
For a law school student who has obtained their qualification, the best gift from family or friends is a wig made by a renowned wig maker. Many wig craftsmen come from a long line of wig makers, even a family tradition that dates back longer than the genealogy of some British nobles.
Custom-made wigs are also a patiently awaited process, as the appointments with many renowned craftsmen are scheduled years in advance. Even if you can get an immediate appointment, the measuring process alone requires at least twelve measurements of your head, which is not an intentional hassle from the craftsmen but a requirement for exquisite craftsmanship.
Of course, you can buy a ready-made wig, but it's not as gentle as having one tailored to fit your head perfectly. Moreover, wearing a randomly bought wig is considered impolite by many legal professionals, akin to attending a formal event in casual attire. British people are known for their conservatism, especially in the judicial realm, where precision and even rigidity are emphasized, while personalization is of less significance.
Many renowned wig-making families keep records of every wig sold, requiring buyers to sign and register. Over the centuries, these records contain the autographs of many famous individuals, as numerous prominent politicians had previously worked as lawyers.
Taking care of a wig is also a meticulous task. Each set of wigs generally comes with a ventilated iron or wooden box, with some boxes even considered separate pieces of art that are more valuable than the wigs themselves. In the era when British people often had lice in their hair, wigs were sprinkled with powder to prevent infestations.
One final question related to China is that.
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