Discover the forgotten Victorian meanings behind the gems, jewels, and symbols in our everyday jewelry with this entrancing guide to more than sixty classic motifs.Hearts, butterflies, and buckles are the stock and trade of today's trendiest jewelers. But did you know that these jewelry motifs, from the heart earrings you bought as a teenager at Claire’s, to the pearl necklace you remember you grandmother wearing, to the hair brooches popular at the Met Gala, take their cues from the Victorian era?Hearts became trendy when Queen Victoria first began to wear them as part of her mourning wardrobe. Butterflies, an emblem for immortality, were all the rage in brooches. And buckles, symbolizing protection and fidelity, were popularized as the symbol for the underground Victorian society, the Order of the Garter.Taking readers into the secret history of more than sixty jewelry symbols, motifs, and jewels, The Secret Language of Jewelry is the first of its kind—a guide that marries the past and present, helping us better understand our wardrobe choices and allowing us to choose the most meaningful and intentional gifts.Written in a wry, engaging tone that brings the past to life, this book features stunning art with vivid historic examples of each topic. Armed with this manual, jewelry enthusiasts will be able to decode the hidden significance behind family heirlooms and celebrity wardrobe choices alike. All jewelry makes a statement—The Secret Language of Jewelry will empower readers to choose theirs.

The Elements of a Home reveals the fascinating stories behind more than 60 everyday household objects and furnishings. Brimming with amusing anecdotes and absorbing trivia, this captivating collection is a treasure trove of curiosities.Withtales from the kitchen, the bedroom, and every room in between, these pages expose how napkins got their start as lumps of dough in ancient Greece, why forks were once seen as immoral tools of the devil, and how Plato devised one of the earliest alarm clocks using rocks and water—plus so much more.• A charming gift for anyone who loves history, design, or décor• Readers discover tales from every nook and cranny of a home. • Entries feature historical details from locations all over the world, including Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa.As a design historian and former managing editor of Design*Sponge, author Amy Azzarito has crafted an engaging, whimsical history of the household objects you've never thought twice about. Theresult is a fascinating book filled with tidbits from a wide range of cultures and places about the history of domestic luxury.• Filled with lovely illustrations by Alice Pattullo• Perfect as a housewarming or wedding gift, or for anyone who adores interior design, trivia, history, and unique facts• Great for those who enjoyed The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy by Rick Beyer, An Uncommon History of Common Things by Bethanne Patrick and John Thompson, Encyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins

Discover the forgotten Victorian meanings behind the gems, jewels, and symbols in our everyday jewelry with this entrancing guide to more than sixty classic motifs.Hearts, butterflies, and buckles are the stock and trade of today's trendiest jewelers. But did you know that these jewelry motifs, from the heart earrings you bought as a teenager at Claire’s, to the pearl necklace you remember you grandmother wearing, to the hair brooches popular at the Met Gala, take their cues from the Victorian era?Hearts became trendy when Queen Victoria first began to wear them as part of her mourning wardrobe. Butterflies, an emblem for immortality, were all the rage in brooches. And buckles, symbolizing protection and fidelity, were popularized as the symbol for the underground Victorian society, the Order of the Garter.Taking readers into the secret history of more than sixty jewelry symbols, motifs, and jewels, The Secret Language of Jewelry is the first of its kind—a guide that marries the past and present, helping us better understand our wardrobe choices and allowing us to choose the most meaningful and intentional gifts.Written in a wry, engaging tone that brings the past to life, this book features stunning art with vivid historic examples of each topic. Armed with this manual, jewelry enthusiasts will be able to decode the hidden significance behind family heirlooms and celebrity wardrobe choices alike. All jewelry makes a statement—The Secret Language of Jewelry will empower readers to choose theirs.

The Elements of a Home reveals the fascinating stories behind more than 60 everyday household objects and furnishings. Brimming with amusing anecdotes and absorbing trivia, this captivating collection is a treasure trove of curiosities.Withtales from the kitchen, the bedroom, and every room in between, these pages expose how napkins got their start as lumps of dough in ancient Greece, why forks were once seen as immoral tools of the devil, and how Plato devised one of the earliest alarm clocks using rocks and water—plus so much more.• A charming gift for anyone who loves history, design, or décor• Readers discover tales from every nook and cranny of a home. • Entries feature historical details from locations all over the world, including Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa.As a design historian and former managing editor of Design*Sponge, author Amy Azzarito has crafted an engaging, whimsical history of the household objects you've never thought twice about. Theresult is a fascinating book filled with tidbits from a wide range of cultures and places about the history of domestic luxury.• Filled with lovely illustrations by Alice Pattullo• Perfect as a housewarming or wedding gift, or for anyone who adores interior design, trivia, history, and unique facts• Great for those who enjoyed The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy by Rick Beyer, An Uncommon History of Common Things by Bethanne Patrick and John Thompson, Encyclopedia of the Exquisite: An Anecdotal History of Elegant Delights by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins