The Parlor Scale
In the late 19th century, scales were all the rage at festive gatherings – yes, the rage! A family would gather round their scale and amuse themselves by weighing in before and after a meal to see how much they gained after they’d eaten.
Parlor scales back then, often were made with highly polished wood, with inlay designs and semi-precious stones. They were quite the “rage”.
As we entered the 20th Century, attitudes began to change. Medical experts and life insurance industries began to set weight “norms” for people and Americans began to see themselves as “over weight” or “under weight” and subsequently, weight became something a person might feel embarassed about.
As the public’s perception of weight changed, so did scales’ places in fine society. They were banished from parlors to kitchens and finally, to bathrooms. Sequestered scales no longer needed to impress, and their ornate decorations gave way to the plain white or gray often seen today.
