Victorian is a visual aesthetic that comprises the various fashions and trends in British culture that emerged and developed in the United Kingdom and the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), which is known as the Victorian Era. What is 19th century aesthetic called? The Aesthetic Movement, also known as “art for […]
Author: Darrel Pratt
Why Did Victorians Keep Locks Of Hair?
In Victorian times, it was common for bereaved family members to keep locks of hair from deceased children or family members. These locks of hair were seen as mementos and served to comfort the surviving loved ones. Why did Victorians keep hair? Hair was a very tangible reminder, memento, souvenir, and keepsake of a life, […]
Was Divorce Allowed In The Victorian Era?
Victorian Marriage Laws If one wanted a divorce, their case would be handled by either ecclesiastical courts or a parliamentary court, based on two kinds of divorce: Mensa et thoro: “Divorce from bed and board,” given in cases of adultery, extreme cruelty, or desertion. Neither partner could remarry. How was divorce viewed by Victorian society? […]
What Was Considered Taboo In The Victorian Era?
The Victorian Era (Queen Victoria’s Reign 1839-1901) is still synonymous with social “restraint”, or, in more Freudian, “repression” . This is the era during which “cursing” or using swear words and any references to sexuality or, really, anything “distasteful”, became taboo in “nice” society. What things did Victorian era people fear? The anxieties of the […]
What Are Victorian Style Windows Called?
Bay Box Sash Windows are one of the most prominent and recognisable features of a Victorian home. Offering improved ventilation and natural light, the benefits of sash windows combined with cheaper glass production made them the default choice for Victorian buildings. What is the Victorian style called? But the term “Victorian architecture” actually refers to […]
What Is Meant By Victorian Morality?
Victorian morality is associated with family values, charity, and thriftiness along with sexual repression. These values conflict with the social tendencies of the time including rampant prostitution, child labor, and the exploitation of the lower classes. Where did Victorian morality come from? Along with these technological and social advancements came a repressive set of moral […]
What Did Poor Victorian Children Do For Fun?
Poor children often made their own toys such as rag balls or, if they were lucky, bought cheap penny toys. Wealthier children played with dolls with wax or china faces, toy soldiers and train sets. What did children do for fun in the Victorian era? Board games such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo and Draughts […]
What Do You Wear Under A Victorian Corset?
Long corsets rounded the bust, held the waist and stomach in, shaped the hips and concealed other underwear worn beneath stays – including chemises (also knowns as shifts), drawers and petticoats. How do you wear a Victorian corset? To put the corset on, spread the corset halves by opening the laces wide first. Then wrap […]
What Was Victorian Life Like For The Rich?
Rich Victorians lived in large houses that were well heated and clean. Children got a good education either by going away to school or having a governess who taught them at home (this is usually how girls were educated). Wealthy people could also afford to buy beautiful clothes. What did the rich do in the […]
What Is The Victorian Stereotype?
The Victorian stereotype and double standard Today “Victorian” connotes a prudish refusal to admit the existence of sex, hypocritically combined with constant discussions of sex, thinly veiled as a series of warnings. There is some truth to both sides of this stereotype. What are Victorians known for? The Victorian era saw revolutionary breakthroughs in the […]