The Thing Is... Beards

A single object can tell fascinating stories. Join us as we hear from a specially selected speaker who will unveil a mystery object in Wellcome Collection. This series of events sheds light on the history of health and medicine from the personal perspectives of patients, doctors, innovators and historians.

The current beard trend shows few signs of abating. It seems that, for the first time in the last few decades, the beard may become more than a passing fad of fashion. Far from a mundane topic, the beard can take us to the heart of debates about masculine appearance and ideals of the male face. In this conversation, historian Alun Whithey will look to the 18th century, when the beard fell out of favour and the clean-shaven look became popular.