Merkins are wigs for the pubic area, with origins dating back at least to the 15th century, when pubic hair was sometimes shaved to combat pubic lice; merkins were also worn to cover dermatologic evidence of syphilis. Via.
Modern-day merkins can be viewed in a Google Image search (mostly safe for work, depending on where you work), with subsections for Hollywood, burlesque, etc (even a face-hugger variant).
And for completeness of "things you wouldn't know," here are instructions on how to attach (and remove) a merkin.
Addendum: A tip of the hat to reader Drabkikker, who tracked down the fact that this photo is a bit of art that is the creation of a modern photographer. Merkins, however, were real, so I'll leave the post up for the educational value of the links.
Oh, my! These are glorious!
ReplyDeleteWhat are they made of?
Do they make them for women?
My bush has disappeared with older age.
Thanks, this was a treat.
"Rare photograph of Frank Zappa's grandfather, taken at the exact moment he started questioning his life choices (and beard shape)"
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they used to sell beaver pelts door to door!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite related trivia is the (censored on TV) President of these United States (In the film Dr. Strangelove) Merkin Muffley
ReplyDeleteOne of the comments in the reddit thread you linked mentioned that the photo is from the weirdly absurd works of 19th-century photographer Shimmel Zohar: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/09/uncanny-tale-shimmel-zohar/616060/ I haven't read the whole longread yet, but it sounds like an intriguing story (and a photo album that's going to be on top of my wish list this Christmas).
ReplyDeleteOk, lol, scrap most of my latest comment. Turns out the photo's were made by a contemporary artist called Stephen Berkman using old photo techniques, and sort-of-attributing them to a half-made-up 19th-century photographer. At least, that's what I've been able to gather (see this article, for instance). It's all very confusing and intriguing. Still want that photo album.
ReplyDeleteThat actually makes sense. And all the more embarrassing because the Sept 2020 Atlantic is on a stack on unread magazines here at home. I"ll insert the link. Thanx, Drabkikker.
DeleteI like the slogan on the case: Serving the discerning pudendum since 1827. I learned a new word: pudendum
ReplyDeleteAnd an interesting word, too, because it's Latin origins may (or may not) imply a sense of "shame," so some people want the word pudendum erased from common usage as an abusive term. Full story here -
Deletehttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/21/science/pudendum-women-anatomy.html
Haha, wait till they learn what the Dutch call (male or female) pubic hair. Schaamhaar. Literally "shame hair".
DeleteWhen the comedian Robert Schimmel was getting chemo for non-Hodgkins lymphoma he was visited by a merkin salesman. It was pretty funny, but I see how a small thing can boost someone's confidence.
ReplyDeleteWell, they're not that small, are they?
The President in Doctor Strangelove was Merkin Muffley
ReplyDeleteBest line:"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room."
It looks like the merkins might be made from his hair, which is presumably part of the joke.
ReplyDeleteThat's a dedicated salesman, going to the length of wearing one on his own face!
ReplyDelete