Soap Maker Collection

Soap factory: a man stirts a tank full of fat into a boil, another cuts the hardened soap with a copper wire - Soap
FLO4577819 Soap factory: a man stirts a tank full of fat into a boil, another cuts the hardened soap with a copper wire - Soap boiler making soap in a factory

Sunlight Soap advertisement, from The Illustrated London News Diamond Jubilee Number
XJF270083 Sunlight Soap advertisement, from The Illustrated London News Diamond Jubilee Number, 1897 (litho) (b/w photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1870. The boiling room of an animal-fat soap factory in the suburbs of Paris, France. Wood engraving, French, c1870

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1870. Cutting hardened cakes of soap with a draw-knife in a French olive oil-soap factory. Wood engraving, c1870

COLONIAL SOAPMAKER. A colonial American soapmaker assisted by an indentured servant. Line engraving, late 18th century

SOAP MANUFACTURE. Enriching the olive oil-lye mixture with further oil as saponification progresses in the soap-boiler of a French soap factory. Line engraving, French, mid-18th century

SOAP MANUFACTURE. Lye being added slowly to olive oil in a soap boiler at a French soap factory. Line engraving, French, mid-18th century

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1750. A French soap factory taken up with furnaces, one to a soap-boiler (d). Along the side wall are ranged tanks of lye (e), in three different degrees of strength

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1750. Slicing hardened cakes of soap vertically using a cleaver. Line engraving, French, mid-18th century

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1870. Cross-section of the steam-heated soap boilers in a French soap factory. Wood engraving, French, c1870

SOAP MANUFACTURE. The soap boiling room of a French olive oil-soap factory at Marseilles. Wood engraving, French, c. 1870

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1870. Cutting harding cakes of soap with an iron wire in a French olive oil-soap factory. Wood engraving, French, c1870

SOAP MANUFACTURE, c1870. The soap boiling room of a French animal-fat soap factory in the Paris, France, suburbs. Wood engraving, French, c1870

COLONIAL SOAPMAKER, 18th C. A colonial American soapmaker assisted by an indentured servant: engraving, late 18th century

French Soapmaker
LE SAVONNIER a French soapmaker, depicted in the act of making putting the liquid soap into trays, to harden

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The art of soap making has a rich history, spanning across different countries and centuries. From the Sunlight Soap advertisement in The Illustrated London News Diamond Jubilee Number to the bustling soap factories in 18th-century France, the process of creating this essential household item has evolved over time. In c1870 Paris, we catch a glimpse into an animal-fat soap factory's boiling room. Wood engravings depict workers diligently tending to large cauldrons filled with bubbling mixtures. Meanwhile, in another French factory specializing in olive oil-soap production, hardened cakes are skillfully cut using draw-knives and iron wires. Traveling back further to colonial America during the late 18th century, we witness a colonial soapmaker being assisted by an indentured servant. This line engraving showcases the collaborative effort required for successful soap production during that era. As we delve deeper into history, mid-18th century France reveals its secrets of enriching olive oil-lye mixtures with additional oils as saponification progresses. Lye is carefully added slowly to olive oil within large boilers while tanks of lye in varying strengths line the side walls of these bustling factories. Slicing hardened cakes vertically or horizontally was also part of the intricate process involved in producing high-quality soaps during this period. Cleavers and iron wires were employed for precision cutting purposes. Cross-sections provide us with insights into steam-heated soap boilers used extensively within French factories around c1870. These innovative advancements allowed for more efficient and controlled heating processes. Finally, our journey takes us to Marseilles where a picturesque scene unfolds – a French olive oil-soap factory's boiling room captured through wood engravings from c1870. Workers can be seen meticulously attending to their tasks amidst rows of cauldrons filled with steaming mixtures. These captivating images offer glimpses into various aspects of soap manufacture throughout history – from the ingredients used to the techniques employed.