An antimacassar is a small cloth placed over the backs or arms of chairs, or the head or cushions of a sofa, to prevent soiling of the permanent fabric.

The name is attributable to the unguent for the hair commonly used in the early 19^th century, macassar oil— the poet Byron called it, "thine incomparable oil, Macassar." An unguent is a soothing preparation spread on sores, burns, irritations, or other topical injuries; an ointment. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Macassar oil is an oil used primarily by men in Victorian and Edwardian times to smooth their hair. ... Lord Byron, English poet Lord Byron (1803), as painted by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, (January 22, 1788 – April 19, 1824) was the most widely read English language poet of his day. ...

The fashion for oiled hair became so widespread in Edwardian and Victorian period that housewives began to cover the arms and backs of their chairs with washable cloths to preserve the fabric coverings from being spoilt. Around 1850, these started to be known as antimacassars. They were also installed in theatres, from 1865. The Edwardian period or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom is the period 1901 to 1910, the reign of King Edward VII. It succeeded the Victorian period and is sometimes extended to include the period up to the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, the start of World War... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, June 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

They came to have elaborate patterns, often in matching sets for the various items of parlour furniture; they were either made at home using a variety of techniques such as crochet or tatting, or bought from shops. Crochet Hooks Crochet is one of several processes of creating fabric from cord, yarn, thread or wire. ... Pine Pattern Collar in Tatting Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace constructed by a series of knots and loops. ...

The original antimacassar was almost invariably made of white crochet-work, very stiff, hard, and uncomfortable, but in the third quarter of the 19^th century it became simpler and less inartistic, and was made of soft coloured stuffs, usually worked with a simple pattern in tinted wools or silk.

By the beginning of the 20^th century, antimacassars had become so associated in peoples’ minds with the Victorian period that the word briefly became a figurative term for it. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

The children's television show Big Comfy Couch had a character named Auntie Macassar. Big Comfy Couch is a childrens TV show. ...

Antimacassars are still found in many airline seats. However, in the United States, cost cutting measures have resulted in many airlines, particularly in domestic, transatlantic, and South American routes, to cease using antimacassars.

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.