Curler

An image of iron curling tongs on a dressing table. Surrounding it are gloves, cuticle items, bobby pins and more.
Curler in the Servant's Quarters

Country of Origin: likely the United States of America
Year: ca. 1910s
Materials: Metal 

Hair care and fashion has always been important to people. For women, haircare has included changing styles and implements meant to assist in styling. This a curler from the 1910s. To use the curler, the nose would be stuck into a fire or on a stove until they got hot. To cool them down, the user would hold one of the handles and flick the item which would spin and cool the curler down to a suitable temperature. Ladies would then use them to create ringlets or waves. Eventually, curlers like these were replaced by electric ones which had a sleeve and would plug into the wall.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.