ENGL21926 People, Places, Things

The pelisse is the archetypal women’s fashion garment of the early 19th century– a long overcoat with a high waist worn over a dress. Otherwise known in France as the redingote, the style began to take shape during the last… more

Basins were a staple necessity in Victorian homes that served a wide variety of uses that could be found in various rooms around the house; however, their importance in this era was the way in which they were revolutionized in the newly distinguished lavatory rooms. For while it was once common for upper and middle class families to wash in their bedrooms using heated or chilled water brought… more

The Victorian era is said to have been the peak for the use of watercolor paints as an artistic medium in Britain. In the mid-1800s, watercolors simultaneously reached the zenith of both their institutional and amateur popularity. This prominence led to the creation of multiple watercolor societies in Britain. Art exhibitions across England found greater success on the heels of the popularity… more

Wax dolls were one of the most famous and expensive luxury dolls in Victorian-era England. A testament to their price and extravagance, the process of manufacturing wax dolls was a complex multi-step process. Their heads were first constructed of wax shells, which were then put together and reinforced with a hard paste. They were then dusted with powders such as… more

Sherry, a type of wine produced in the Jerez region of southern Spain, was immensely popular throughout the Victorian period. However, the relationship between the English and sherry began several centuries before. In the Elizabethan era, English pirates carried sherry back to their home country after capturing Spanish ships or sacking Spanish cities, tying the… more

Timekeeping played a key role in the hustle and bustle of urban Victorian culture. Formerly, clocks were symbols of vast wealth, available only to the church, the royal family, and some wealthy aristocrats. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the development of the long-case clock transformed clocks from a public project (owned by the church) into a domestic… more

Tea was consumed in Victorian Britain much as it is today- black tea leaves were steeped in a kettle to brew a beverage which could be enjoyed as a recreational drink. Unalike in the current day, however, tea was a semi-formal daily routine, enjoyed with refreshments such as little cakes or sweetmeats. It was served on porcelain dining ware sold in sets, including items such as teapots, cups,… more

Of all the gastronomic tendencies of the Victorian era, butter was perhaps one of the most quintessential — nothing was more out of place than a tea board with tea, sugar, and bread, but no pat of butter. A staple for small meals, butter transcended the class structure. It could be found in the calloused hands of a factory worker, scraping a thin, adulterated… more

Chintz fabric, defined by its floral designs and the use of mordants and dyes, originated in India and became a staple of English fashion and interior design by the seventeenth century. While chintz became a popular choice for clothing, curtains, and bedspreads, England placed a partial ban on the import of the fabric from… more

A gallery of Victorian things, as detected in Jane Eyre and Hard Times