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The Bader: A Look into German Barber-Surgeons
Exploration of the historical profession of "Bader" in Germany, encompassing their skills, competition, cultural relevance, and lasting impact on modern barbering.
German
Germany
Germany Labour MarketLifestyleHistoryCultureProfessionBarber
Mathias ReichelEugen OkerWastl Pitz
- What was the historical profession of a "Bader?"
- The text describes the historical profession of "Bader," a versatile barber-surgeon who performed various services, including wound care, bloodletting, tooth extraction, and haircutting.
- How does the term "Bader" survive in modern times?
- While the profession of Bader is largely obsolete, the term survives in some rural areas as a synonym for a barber or hairdresser, sometimes with ironic connotations like "Baderwaschl," implying clumsiness.
- What is Eugen Oker's opinion on the profession of Bader?
- Eugen Oker, a writer, famously expressed his disdain for the profession of Bader, suggesting that combining a school teacher and 99 baders would result in 100 fools.
- What were some common hairstyling techniques used by Baders?
- Traditional Bader haircuts included methods like placing a pot on the head and shearing around it, or creating uneven cuts. A popular style was the "Stiftlkopf," a short, spiky cut.
- Describe a historical incident of competition between a Bader and a doctor.
- Mathias Reichel, a Bader, complained about a foreign doctor competing with him in Velden in 1771, but the doctor was allowed to stay due to successfully treating the local brewer's wife.