Veritable pommade pour faire croître e et épaissir les cheveux
Print
1819 (Published)
1819 (Published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Selling potions and patent medicines was a sideline of many an itinerant performer working in crowded fairgrounds and market places. This detailed and sensitive lithograph by Jean-Marie Jacomin (1789-1858) shows a vendor-magician-musician holding a phial of his potion in his left hand, with a wooden box of his wares on the ground behind him. This print has been trimmed down but it was originally published in Lyon in 1819 with the title 'Veritable Pommade pour faire croître et épaissir les cheveux', or 'Real Pomade to growth and thicken hair'. He himself wears a luxuriant wig and carries a trombone, presumably to gain attention to his sales pitch or magic show, props for which are laid out on the table in front of him. The cups and balls on the table were for one of the oldest magic tricks, known in ancient Egypt and still performed today. The performer's apron also has a useful pocket for storing props for his act.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Veritable pommade pour faire croître e et épaissir les cheveux (published title) |
| Materials and techniques | Printing ink on paper |
| Brief description | Veritable pommade pour faire croître et épaissir les cheveux. Lithograph by Jean-Marie Jacomin (1789-1858) printed by Lefèvre. Signed in the stone Jacomin 1819. |
| Physical description | Lithograph depicting a seller of hair restorer wearing a luxuriant wig, a frock coat and apron with large pocket, holding a phial of his unguent in his left hand and a trombone under his arm. He is shown standing in front of a box of phials of hair restorer and behind a table set with props for the cup and ball trick. Signed in the stone Jacomin 1819. The print has been trimmed removing the original title. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This print was originally published in 1819 but was reproduced in 1902 as an illustration in John Grand-Carteret's book L'Enseigne Son Histoire Sa Philosophie Ses Particularites, Les Boutiques, La Maison, Les Rues, La Reclame à Lyon |
| Summary | Selling potions and patent medicines was a sideline of many an itinerant performer working in crowded fairgrounds and market places. This detailed and sensitive lithograph by Jean-Marie Jacomin (1789-1858) shows a vendor-magician-musician holding a phial of his potion in his left hand, with a wooden box of his wares on the ground behind him. This print has been trimmed down but it was originally published in Lyon in 1819 with the title 'Veritable Pommade pour faire croître et épaissir les cheveux', or 'Real Pomade to growth and thicken hair'. He himself wears a luxuriant wig and carries a trombone, presumably to gain attention to his sales pitch or magic show, props for which are laid out on the table in front of him. The cups and balls on the table were for one of the oldest magic tricks, known in ancient Egypt and still performed today. The performer's apron also has a useful pocket for storing props for his act. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.253-2018 |
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| Record created | October 16, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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