LUXURY ANALYSIS

Kahlia Taylor & Kaity Williams

Wedding
Dress
CATEGORY: Clothing

History
Idea was around since the middle ages
Both upper & lower class wore dresses

Made popular by queen Victoria during the 19th century

Weddings were about politics (aristocratic)
Upper Class

- bold colors

- rich fabrics (velvet, silk, satin)

- current fashion

Lower Class
- best church dress

Victoria's Dress
Long, embroidered
Long veil, 4 yards

Elaborate design (orange flowers)

Silk, satin & lace
18ft. Train

Typology
This specific dress was found in a shop window at the luxury quadrilateral.
Restriction: sign of wealth, price

Semiotic Virtuosity: idea of white meaning pure

Specialized knowledge: the more elaborate your dress the better you represented your
family and wealth
Linkage to personality: showed you were high in society
In previous times it would be considered pure luxury but in todays society it is
accessible and the basic features of the dress have remained the same.

Visual Codes
Exoticism: lace, fabric, length of train and veil, as well as the accent pieces that adorn
the dress
Gold

Map Goods
Top Left

Analysis
The wedding dress shows richness, fascination associated with the aristocratic or
bourgeois group. The better the dress looks the higher up you were in society with the
bourgeois it showed that they too could have something of value that fit into the
stereotype the aristocrats centered around the product. The luxury is internalized as a
wedding dress is a representation of how the woman wearing it thinks about herself but
it is also externalized as what she wants to portray to the world and how she wants
other to visualize her. This glamour is alluring as its the person wearing the dress and
how they wear it that draws peoples attention to them.

Porcelain
Pots
Category: Long lasting
leisure

History
Origination: China (Shang Dynasty 1600-1046 B.C.)
Chinese would export and expand the product via silk road to all of Asia & Europe

Value was based on association

In Europe the Medici family in Florence made the 1 st porcelain attempt to reproduce it
3 types:
1.

Hard paste

2.

Soft paste

3.

Bone china

Typology
Restriction: Associated with everyone but mostly the upper class
Complexity: still made but antiques such as fine china is looked at as something rear

Semiotic: value was based on association so if you were upper class it was deemed
better quality and value
Knowledge: its history, what part of the world it was associated with
Accessibility: everyone could have one but its quality and value was based on your
social class
Old: based on its history

Visual Codes
Exoticism, ceramic pottery
Could be gold, other elements were sometimes added to the china to heighten its
value

Map Goods
Top Right

Analysis
Meanings: mostly associated with the upper class as they could afford better quality
china also it was used differently. For the lower class it was simply pots and pans
It is distinct, richness, enchantment as well as fascination is based on where it came
from and the design on it.
Values: Mass, everyone had access but not everyone indulged. It was referred
sometimes restricted depending on where it came from and who made it. Someone
could own it and feel as though it made them closer to a higher social class where as if
it was seen in your home you were considered wealthier.
The way it looks is alluring as well as its uses. It most likely had to be imported so the
travel and distinct is also a big factor in analyzing its glamour.

Fan
Category: leisure/
clothing

History
Ancient ruins show us that hand fans were used as
far back as the 4th century BC. Hand fans
disappeared from Europe in the middle ages but
made a comeback in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Fans were brought to Europe from the Middle East
and China\Japan. In the 17th century fans from East
Asia were popularly displayed by wealthy women
coming from well off families. Queens also carried
fans along with members of their court. They were
seen as high status, exotic items. They would be
given as gift to royalty. In the 18th century fans were
being made in Europe by skilled artisans and
craftsmen. They were made with silk and parchment
adorned with detailed designs. The fans were used
by the royal court to convey secret messages.

Typology
Luxury register- throughout history folding hand fans were available to a
range of individuals. This fan is from the 18 th century, a period when
they only would have belong to someone wealthy or royal. This fan is
very detailed with patterns and images. Folding fans were seen as
exotic yet useful. It took a special knowledge to know where the fans
came from and what materials were used in its making to truly
appreciate the fan. These fans were linked to the person\body
because they were often carried by the women and could be found in
her hand. They fans were also used to cover their faces and waved to
cool the women- this created an attachment between the women
and the fan.
They were pure luxury.

They have old luxury characteristics- status, exclusivity, but they also
served to be useful.

Visual Codes
exoticism: orient, mystery (secret messages)
gold: royalty, art

Map
Bottom, left corner: requiring a knowledge of material and craftsmanship,
representation of travel and culture, but not as expensive as many other womens
accessories of the time.

Analysis
Not only were they exotic and beautiful they were also used to protect women from the sun,
cool them, and used by the women of the royal court to convey secret messages. Although
they came from exotic lands they werent the most expensive thing.
They were exclusive and either came from far lands in Asia or from skilled European
craftsmen, this gave the gave the fans worldliness and represented travel. Since the fans
can be traced back to ancient times they are also have historical\traditional values.
They were restricted to the royal court and well off women. This lifestyle came walks in the
garden where they may their fans or at the afternoon tea.
Internalized because it was used for personal comfort. Externalized because they were a
display of wealth and worldliness but also used to communicate messages with others in
their class.
Concerning glamour these fans had female allure, displayed that women using them were
on the move, portrayed travel, and they were a communication tool used within the social
class- adding the glamorous system

Chandelier
Category: leisure

History
The earliest chandeliers were used to hold candles by the wealthy in medieval times. In
the 15th century chandeliers were a popular decorative feature in palaces and homes
of the nobility and clergy. Its high cost made it a symbol of luxury and status. The word
chandelier is often associated with class. It comes from the French word chandelle
which means candle holder. In history they were seen synonymous with elegance,
wealthy, and beauty. In the 16th and 17th centuries they had also found their way into
prosperous homes.
During the 18th century (around the era from which this chandelier comes from)
chandeliers were being produced by Bohemian and Venetian glassmakers. Murano
glass chandeliers would hang in important theaters and palaces. Throughout the 18 th
and 19th century chandeliers became more grand and elaborate. Towards the end of
the 20th century, chandeliers were used moslty for decoration and not lighting.

Typology
Luxury register- Only the wealthiest people could have chandeliers ordained with glass
and details in their homes. Not everyone had access to having this extravagant light
fixture in their home- especially when it was very elaborate, large and detailed.
Chandeliers were often seen as the presence of Christ and were tied to wealth and
elegance. It would be important to know the materials and craftsmanship that went
into the chandelier when selecting one for your home- usually the wealthiest would
have one designed specifically for the area they wanted it. The more grand the
chandelier and the more detail it contained the more important it was to the area.
It is a pure form of luxury

It has old features of luxury: status, class and exclusivity

Visual Codes
gold: royalty and diamonds
glitter: splendor

Map Goods
Top, left corner: both expensive and requiring knowledge to truly appreciate.

Analysis
Throughout history chandeliers meant extravagance, design\decor and tradition
Values related to the product are used for light but also used for decoration.

It referred to the wealthy and royalty. It revolved around a lifestyle of fancy dinner
parties in their home and often having guests. These chandeliers were used to display
wealth and their social status within their home to all that entered. The grandest
chandeliers belonged to the aristocracy.
It is an externalized form of luxury even though it was in their homes. It was used to
communicate their wealth and class to others that entered their area.
Chandeliers displayed glamour. They were very bold and prominent features within the
home.