Curious Curator: The Moustache Cup

One of the most popular artefacts within our collection is the moustache cup that is exhibited on the desk in the Library. The novelty behind its existence, the built in moustache shelf, delights all ages when our interpreters reference it, and is among a favoured treasure in our collection among our staff and volunteer interpreters, as well.   I do not know much about the origins of the cup. There is no hallmark or provenance associated with the cup and saucer.

The invention of the moustache cup is attributed to Harvey Adams,  an English potter, c. 1860. Adams made his fortune developing a high class china company, Harvey Adams and Co., which became Hammersley & Co, after Harvey's retirement in 1885.

George, Sam, JJ & Robert McLaughlin

Novel to the 2015 consumer, the moustache cup was a huge success in the Victorian world due to the fact that moustaches were en vogue. Take a look at any photograph of the era, and you will see all sorts of fancy whiskers and moustaches adorning the faces of men.  Even among my own archives, take a look at this early 20th century photograph of the McLaughlin men., on the right. The necessity and popularity of accessories for the moustache becomes quite understandable. Add to the popularity of the moustache the requirement of the British Military who make the moustache compulsory between 1860 and 1916, since the moustachioed man imparted authority,  

Command No. 1,695 of the King’s Regulations read:

The hair of the head will be kept short. The chin and the under lip will be shaved, but not the upper lip..."

"Although the act of shaving one’s upper lip was trivial in itself, it was considered a breach of discipline. If a soldier were to do this, he faced disciplinary action by his commanding officer which could include imprisonment, an especially unsavory prospect in the Victorian era." 
Military Moustache



Moustache spoon

So, why the cup?  The moustache cup is a cup designed with a small lip on the inside intended to protect the drinker’s facial hair from whatever beverage they happen to be drinking.  In an era where the moustache was either a must have or a want to have item, gentlemen came up with a number of ways to make sure that their moustaches were maintained. One of the more popular ways to style a moustache during this time was to use wax, some men also liked to dye their moustache to give it a more vibrant appearance. The problem with both of these methods of moustache maintenance was that neither held up well to hot liquid- dye would run and wax would invariably melt and cause unsightly moustache droopage the second it came into contact with something like hot tea or coffee.
This concern also applied to soup, and eventually the moustache spoon also became a much needed item in any well appointed home.  We do not have a moustache spoon in the collection, but I bet there are a few museums that do!

By the turn of the 20th century, the invention of the safety razor led to a change in grooming habits that made moustache cups obsolete for the vast majority of men. As a result, production and sales of moustache cups slowly dried up. By 1930, this formerly commonplace item was almost unheard of.

I think at any age RSM would have been happy to have his moustache cup handy.

Sparks to Fly at Parkwood

Parkwood received a fund-matching grant from the National Cost-sharing Program for National Historic Sites, to assist with the replacement of the c. 1917 main electrical panel. This support is also related to 2017 (our 100th birthday and Canada’s 150th), and we look forward to starting the next 100 years in the best shape possible.

An electrical panel is far less beautiful or dramatic than a greenhouse restoration, previously announced with a fund matching grant investment from the federal government—but it will ensure reliable electrical service for years to come as well as safer conditions for staff and electricians. We should mention that the c. 1917 electrical panel is a popular feature of basement tours, and some would argue that it is indeed an extraordinary and beautiful thing.
It is also a highlight of the firefighter orientation Parkwood does as part of our disaster preparedness training program with the City of Oshawa Fire Services, annually.

Replacement plans will allow the original panel to be abandoned in place, with power channeled through a new panel nearby. Our preference is always to retain original elements for their interpretive value and rarity.

Watch for additional blogging material as we upgrade our electrical systems and the work our heritage architects, electrical advisors, Curator and Executive Director have in coming weeks as we debate and figure out what is preserved and maintained moving forward.

Special Parkwood Announcement August 5, 2015 – Parkwood Greenhouses Receive a Federal Helping Hand

August 5, 2015 – Parkwood Greenhouses Receive a Federal Helping Hand

 

Nancy Shaw, President of The Parkwood Foundation, announced today the receipt of a federal grant to assist in restoration of the Parkwood greenhouse complex, of up to $ 502,936.   The grant is provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program and is a matching-fund program.   Ms. Shaw noted:  “This grant will provide up to 50% funding for the complete restoration of Parkwood’s greenhouse complex, or glass gardens - to borrow an early 20^th century term.  In fact our overall project is called: Saving Glass Gardens – A 2017 Celebration.”

 

Parkwood Executive Director Brian Malcolm added:  “This is just the greatest news for The Parkwood Foundation, as we contemplate the celebration in 2017 of Canada’s 150^th birthday along with the 100^th birthday of this national built-heritage treasure.   The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program and its theme - Giving Back to Canada - is an amazing fit with Sam McLaughlin’s story as an automotive pioneer and philanthropist, and it’s sure to be a point of inspiration for all Canadians. 

 

Our Foundation is most grateful to the federal government for making this         re-investment in Canada’s historic resources, and providing a tremendous boost to the efforts of Parkwood staff and volunteers in heritage stewardship.  We also thank Oshawa MP Colin Carrie for championing the cause.” 

Federal funding assistance will preserve an important part of the McLaughlin story and ensure further educational benefits for generations to come.   The availability of fund-matching dollars is an invaluable support for fundraising, providing donors an opportunity to double the impact of their gifts and maximize on the amount of work that will be accomplished.

 

About Greenhouse Restoration

The Greenhouse complex at Parkwood is at serious risk of continued deterioration and even complete loss.   Timely intervention is required, which fortunately will be made possible by this Federal grant support, and the fund–matching benefit.

 

Parkwood previously completed a greenhouse restoration pilot project in 2013/2014 on one of the greenhouses.   This followed a formal conservation study/report, and it helped confirm the initial findings and the restoration requirements laid out in the report.   These lessons will then be applied across the five greenhouses, or glass gardens still awaiting attention.   The results of the completed pilot project are stunning, and they provide inspiration for the remainder of the greenhouse restoration work to come.   

 

As always, Parkwood works with recognized heritage specialists and undertakes projects in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Historic Places in Canada.

 

 

Special Parkwood Announcement: Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Special Guest helps Launch Special Program

Parkwood was pleased to welcome Dame Fiona Woolf DBE Aug 4, 2015, to take part in the launch of a special project of Parkwood, entitled Margaret’s Message.   The project is a two-year textiles conservation program that will culminate in 2017 – Parkwood’s 100^th anniversary year and Canada’s 150th.  The project will engage students of Sir Sanford Fleming College, in an extended learning and lab experience in conservation.

London, England resident Dame Fiona served as the Lord Mayor of London in 2013/2014, as the 686^th Lord Mayor and only the second woman to hold the role since 1189.  Last month she was named a Dame Commander of the British Empire by HRH Queen Elizabeth II.  Her visit to Oshawa provided the perfect time to announce Parkwood’s special project which is named for her mother, the late Margaret Swain.

Joining in the announcement were Dame Fiona’s brother Dr. Richard Swain and wife Sharon Swain (a Past President and Honorary Director of The Parkwood Foundation), Parkwood President Nancy Shaw,  and representing Sir Sandford Fleming College:  Gayle McIntyre

About Margaret’s Message

Margaret Swain was a renowned Edinburgh-based textiles expert, and one of the earliest champions for preserving Parkwood as a museum and historic site.   As we look towards Parkwood’s 100^th anniversary in 2017 (and Canada’s 150^th), we salute those like Margaret who urged its protection.  In visits to Parkwood over many years, and drawing on her experience with international museums and collections, she impressed upon us that the completeness of the estate and the wealth of original furnishings, art and archives were rare and precious things in Canada.  She helped us to see their opportunities for study, how they could be continually mined for educational and artistic value.  Margaret also championed the intrinsic value of each, whether modest or magnificent, their collective impact, and the imperative of their preservation. 

Margaret’s Message is our inspirational title therefore for this project, particularly fitting as it engages post-secondary conservation/museums studies students in meaningful learning experiences toward successful career paths and the next generation of heritage stewards.

 

About Textiles Conservation & Parkwood

Historic textiles are resources most vulnerable to the effects of time and exposure to visible and ultraviolet light rays, dust and even human contact.  The master bedroom suite at Parkwood presents a varied catalogue of textiles - silk draperies & valances, silk upholsteries, lace coverlets and bed coverings, lampshades, and carpets.   It is also a fantastic learning opportunity about textiles conservation and the materials and techniques needed for cleaning, stabilization, repair and/or restoration.   This room will provide a learning lab over the next two years.

Visitors to Parkwood will have an opportunity to witness the project in progress on guided mansion tours and through periodic presentations, workshops and other programs.

About Sir Sandford Fleming

The Museum Management and Curatorship Program is an intensive, fast-paced, immersion experience that provides applied training for careers in the museum, gallery or heritage sectors.

Visit http://flemingcollege.ca/programs/museum-management-and-curatorship for more information about the program.

 

Curious Curator: The Great Opera Series

In the course of any discussion about Parkwood and its history, Adelaide McLaughlin often comes up. People tend to fixate on her and her background and how she rose to become a leading socialite and hostess of business and social functions afforded by the McLaughlin status and lifestyle. I am often asked how ever did this farm girl born and raised in Brougham, (north Pickering, Ontario) succeed among society and the snobbery that she would have encountered and perhaps, been blocked by, everyday.

Truthfully, I do not know how she endeavoured past the restrictions of a late 19th and early 20th class structure, but I have my guesses. Don't forget that out of the two, between Sam and Adelaide, Adelaide actually had the more paper-based education.  Adelaide left the Kinsale/ Brougham area to attend teachers college in Ottawa prior to meeting Sam McLaughlin. She acquired her teaching certificate and taught in a typical Ontario school house, as many young women did as the nation grew.

She gave up teaching when she married Sam McLaughlin but her teacher self is still evident in the artefacts and archives that we hold. I see her crib notes as she studied many different aspects; from nature, to biblical references, to hiring and running a household staff. I see her scrapbooks where she clips information about the latest medical advances, and political rhetoric of the times, including the role of education inside and outside of the home. She makes notes on the current ( her current) curriculum discussions, highlighting and using quotations and facts in her speeches that she made as president of the Ontario Home and Schools Movement.



ALM signature on flyleaf
Below our accession #
Historic library notation for Parkwood Library bottom left

The Parkwood household library affords many clues on how Adelaide "succeeded", as queried.  I am going to draw your attention to five volumes of books under the series title; The Great Opera Series.  These approximate fifty page volumes, provide the necessary information to assist any novice attending an opera understand and follow the program. Beautifully illustrated drawing one into the story, the book provides a comprehensive discussion of the cast, the history behind the story itself, and the break down of each act. Once the reader is familiar with the story line and authentic history to the opera, the reader is then taken on a journey of the music used throughout the program, encouraging the reader to note the undercurrent and the emotions which the music should evoke at key plot lines of the story.


The short answer to Adelaide's success, she was not a fool, she prepared.

The Great Opera Series books that line the Parkwood Library shelves are: The Meistersingers by Wagner; Lohengrin by Wagner; Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni; Carmen by Bizet; Madame Butterfly by Puccini.  All of them are written by J Cuthbert Hadden (1861-1914) who was a prolific writer in his time, including contributing content to many well known volumes of music history.

The rather more interesting aspect is with regards to the illustrations, which are stunning as noted above.  For the longest time, I could not figure out who the illustrator was, as they are unnamed on the volumes. The only clue is on each picture in the books, a small block print with the initials SB. SB turns out to be John Byam Liston Shaw known as pre-Raphaelite- inspired, Byam Shaw 1872-1919). An Indian born, British painter, Shaw is known as a painter, illustrator and design teacher. When his popularity as an artist waned, he turned to teaching, and in 1910 formed the Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art later renamed simply the "Byam Shaw School of Art"

With the outbreak of WWI, Byam Shaw enlisted in the Artist Rifles", producing was cartoons and memorial commissions, just like many of the Victorian and Raphaelite inspired artists of the day, if you can recall the November blog about Holly Leaves.

Byam Shaw was a casualty of the 1919 influenza epidemic.