Victorian Material Culture: Fashionable Things

This six-volume collection covers various Victorian things, including chatelaines, whale blubber, ice-making machines, and stained glass. It discusses significant developments in material history and demonstrates the importance of objects in the everyday lives of the Victorians.

Format: Hardback
Length: 404 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

From chatelaines to whale blubber, ice-making machines to stained glass, this six-volume collection will be of interest to the scholar, student, or general reader alike - anyone who has an urge to learn more about Victorian things. The set brings together a range of primary sources on Victorian material culture and discusses the most significant developments in material history from across the nineteenth century. The collection will demonstrate the significance of objects in the everyday lives of the Victorians and address important questions about how we classify and categorise nineteenth-century things.

This collection brings together a range of primary sources on Victorian material and culture. This volume, 'Fashionable Things', will focus on Victorian fads and fashions ranging from chatelaines to insect jewellery.

The Victorians were a society obsessed with fashion and material possessions. They were constantly seeking new and innovative ways to express their wealth and status. This obsession with fashion led to the development of a wide range of fashionable things, from chatelaines to whale blubber.

Chatelaines were small, decorative purses that were often made of leather or silk. They were often adorned with intricate designs, such as embroidery or gemstones, and were used to hold small items such as keys, coins, and lipstick. Whale blubber was used to make a variety of items, including candles, soap, and perfume. It was also used as a source of fuel for lamps and stoves.

Ice-making machines were another fashionable thing of the Victorian era. These machines were used to make ice, which was then used to cool drinks and food. They were often made of copper or iron and were powered by steam or electricity. Stained glass was another popular Victorian material. It was used to create beautiful windows and doors for churches and other buildings. Stained glass was made by painting different colors onto glass panels and then firing them in a kiln.

The Victorians were also interested in technology and science. This led to the development of a wide range of technological and scientific things, such as the telephone, the telegraph, and the microscope. The telephone was invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell, and it allowed people to communicate over long distances without having to be in the same room. The telegraph was invented in 1837 by William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone, and it allowed people to communicate over long distances using Morse code. The microscope was invented in 1665 by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, and it allowed people to see small objects up close.

The Victorians were also interested in art and literature. This led to the development of a wide range of artistic and literary things, such as paintings, sculptures, and novels. Some of the most famous paintings of the Victorian era include 'The Mona Lisa' by Leonardo da Vinci, 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci, and 'The Starry Night' by Vincent van Gogh. Some of the most famous novels of the Victorian era include 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte, 'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Bronte, and 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In conclusion, the Victorians were a society obsessed with fashion, material possessions, technology, science, art, and literature. This obsession with fashion led to the development of a wide range of fashionable things, from chatelaines to whale blubber. The Victorians were also interested in technology and science, which led to the development of a wide range of technological and scientific things. Finally, the Victorians were interested in art and literature, which led to the development of a wide range of artistic and literary things.

Weight: 950g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138225381