[Alouette]

I have a photograph of my great-great-grandmother, wearing a bristly, horsehair wig (circa 1880).

I think this custom originated in the 18th century, in imitation of the gentile nobility who wore wigs. There is an old illustration of Lady Judith Montefiore (about 1850) wearing an elegant wig. The custom of Jewish women wearing wigs was widespread by the 1800's.

Illustrations of Jewish women in previous centuries show them wearing veils or head scarves.

Gluckel of Hameln, a 17th-century Jewish woman, wrote about wearing a "wimple" but mentioned "peruke" as something worn by gentiles.

[Tax-chick]

Thanks! That's very interesting.

Is there a socio-economic connotation to a modern Jewish woman's wearing a wig as opposed to a scarf/veil, or is it just personal preference?

[VeritatisSplendor]

I understand the idea of being covered - I just can't wrap myself around a covering that looks like what it's covering.

Kind of like a skin-tight, flesh-colored top. I'm sorry, it sounds offensive and I don't mean to be, but I really don't understand it.

Mrs VS