Unless you have extensive experience in furniture or have otherwise come across this term or its application, odds are high that the meaning of antimacassar is a bit vague.
The word almost sounds like it would imply something harsh in nature. Not to worry, they were actually developed to help our furniture last as long as possible.
An antimacassar is a piece of cloth that is draped over the back and/or arms of sofas, armchairs, etc.
Macassar oil, a dressing for the hair, became extremely popular during the Victorian era. As a result, the women developed pieces of cloth that would come in contact with the oil in their hair instead of the furniture. These cloths would then be removed and washed as necessary.
Hence the anti-macassar in antimacassar. Doesn’t sound so complicated anymore, does it? Good, because that’s what we were hoping for.
While macassar oil is no longer the ointment of choice among today’s women, antimacassars still aid in preventing wear in common areas of contact on furniture; such as the arms and back.
Antimacassars were the original Scotch-Guards, as that and other chemical-based protective agents hadn’t been developed yet.
In today’s applications, antimacassars would be made of the same material as the furniture’s upholstery so as to blend in completely and go unnoticed.
Somewhat waning in popularity, antimacassars can still be found on some sofas and chairs that are readily available.
So whether you saw the pieces of cloth draping the furniture of a friend’s and wondered what it was, or were just stopping by the blog for today’s post, you can walk away a bit more informed.