Organized alphabetically from "Acorn" to "Wreath," Azzarito's beautiful book explores the symbolism and lore that gave deeper meaning to the gems and jewelry of the Victorian period. Largely forgotten today, this symbolism would have been readable —and significant—to those who made, sold, bought and wore jewelry at the time. "In this world of repressed emotion, symbolic meaning was everywhere. There was floriography, which uncovered the secret meanings behind flowers; there was a secret language of stamps, where the placement of postage could convey a coded meaning; colors had symbolic meanings; and then there was jewelry," the author writes. "Consider this volume your code breaker," she concludes. Copious illustrations of jewelry from the era are paired with period images depicting pieces or the tales that infused them, brief histories of the symbolism involved, and snippets of age-old lore; high quality reproductions and lively design make the pages a visual treat.
Secret Language of Victorian Jewelry offers a rich, fun and useful overview of not just what the Victorians wore, but also the way they thought.
