Your Cart is Empty
The Victorian era was a period of great prosperity. The British Empire was at its height and the era was one of profound change. The industrial revolution is conducive to a fantastic version of the Victorian period with a very advanced technology. Still based on steam machines, gears and mechanisms of all kinds, this is the basis of Steampunk. Sublimated by literature with authors like H.G. Wells or Jules Verne who are the fathers of science fiction, and somehow the ancestors of the futuristic movement. Here are some examples of Victorian objects that have been influenced by their Steampunk version.
Victorian jewelry is jewelry that was either produced during the Victorian era or modeled after jewelry made during that period of British history. This era had a huge cultural impact on Britain and cultures closely associated with Britain, including nations that were British protectorates or colonies during this period. Many people associate the Victorian era with romanticism, elegance, and a ruthless era that reflected the innocence of an era before the immense cultural upheaval of the twentieth century.
The Victorian era lasted from 1837 to 1901. Queen Victoria established a number of style and fashion trends in Britain during this period, and this era is notably associated with very rigid rules of dress, formal modes of dress, and somewhat ornate and difficult interior decoration. With the expansion of British influence under Victoria, jewelry began to change dramatically, largely because the British had access to diamond mines and other sources of minerals and metals that were incorporated into the jewelry of the period.
Some Victorian jewelry is handmade, reflecting a very high level of craftsmanship. Victorians routinely commissioned jewelry for each other as gifts, contracting the services of artisans to make brooches, rings and necklaces. Other jewelry was made in factories, using rudimentary techniques that often involved the supervision of an experienced jeweler, unlike modern jewelry, which can be made with minimal human influence. Therefore, even the machine-made jewelry of this era has a note of individuality.
Certain types of jewelry were particularly common in the Victorian era, and these objects are considered typical examples of jewelry like this Victorian ring.
Hair work, which is made from human or animal hair, was very common during this period, as was camouflage. Mourning jewelry was the fashion of the Victorian era and was very much in demand. Victorian jewelry tended to be ornate and often heavily jeweled, with less fortunate Victorians using glass and mother of pearl and other stones in their jewelry.
The look of Victorian jewelry is quite distinctive. It tends to be heavy and bold, with lots of jet, diamonds and coral. To the modern eye, it's an old-fashioned feel. The Victorian style has such lasting popularity that many firms make reproduction jewelry that is modeled after or inspired by real Victorian jewelry. Reproduction jewelry tends to be less expensive, because it is not an antique like real Victorian jewelry. Many of the techniques for making handmade pieces are the same, reflecting the fact that goldsmithing has changed little over the centuries.
Victorian jewelry is very popular right now among steam-punk enthusiasts. I don't think they use vintage Victorian jewelry usually, but just costume jewelry.
Often it is modified by adding some gears or other pieces of metal, or other things like feathers or velvet. You can find some very nice examples on the internet.
But I've also seen people in steam-punk costumes wearing original Victorian jewelry, and relying on the rest of their clothes to accentuate the exuberant effect that the style demands.
I think it's an interesting and exciting trend, although I've never dressed that way.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, boots were popular, including button boots, slip-on boots and lace-up boots. The term Victorian lace-up boots refers to both lace-up boots that were made during this era and modern boots that are styled to look like their older counterparts. These typically leather boots are available in both men's and women's styles, and are available from many different sources.
There are still lace-up boots that date back to the Victorian era, but they tend to be well worn and relatively small. It is much more common for people to wear authentic reproductions. Ideally, they are made of the same materials as the original Victorian lace-up boots. For costumes, however, some may choose a boot made of artificial materials rather than the more expensive leather.
Most Victorian lace-up boots made for men are quite short, hitting the middle of the ankle or just above. They are typically black or brown, although lighter colors can sometimes be found. The laces on these boots are usually dark and tend to be made of a heavy, soft material. The heel is usually short and blocky.
Victorian women's lace-up boots come in two styles: low and high, the two most common being ankle-high and mid-thigh. The laces generally run up the front of the shoe from the foot to the top of the boot. The heels are usually 2 inches high and are quite low, with an hourglass shape. Color choices include green, tan, and white, although black and brown are always the dominant colors.
Another important feature of Victorian women's lace-up boots is their very pointed and narrow toe. When buying shoes or boots in this style, it is sometimes advisable to buy them larger than usual to avoid the toes getting too pinched. The extra room ensures that the boots remain wearable despite the extreme style.
These pieces can include replicas inspired by furniture from the past, as well as antique pieces that have been restored. Antique Victorian furniture can be extremely valuable, especially to collectors. Some late century pieces are displayed in museums because of their historical significance.
All Victorian furniture, whether reproductions or genuine antiques, will feature styles popular in the 1800s. These styles were in production under the reign of Queen Victoria, hence the name Victorian. Many of them were produced in large quantities and distributed in several countries. Other pieces were hand drawn and sold in local stores. Many wealthy Americans decorated their homes with Victorian furniture.
Victorian furniture has intricate carvings and designs. Many of the wooden pieces were hand carved with motifs inspired by nature. At the turn of the century, innovations such as chiseling tools were used to create many styles. One of the most popular Victorian pieces of furniture was the rocking chair. In later years, the rocking chair was improved to be more functional.
Victorian furniture can be constructed of a variety of materials, although wood is the most common. Walnut and mahogany were the most commonly used species in this era; this era. The fabrics used in Victorian items can be jacquard, leather or velvet, to name a few.
The Victorian sofa was a common piece of furniture in the Victorian era. The sofa is similar to a modern armchair, and it can generally accommodate two people. It has two arms and is often seen with a silky velvet-like fabric.
There are different classifications of Victorian furniture. These include the Early Victorian style, the Renaissance Victorian style and the Louis XVI style of the Victorian era. Estate sales, auctions and antique shops can be good places to find Victorian furniture. Victorian reproductions can be found in furniture galleries specializing in Victorian rooms.
For the avid collector or those who simply want to learn more about Victorian furniture, reading material can be found in many public libraries. Many reference books on the history of Victorian furniture are available for purchase. Reference videos on Victorian furniture are also available.
For a more steampunk style, we will opt for an industrial look from the automobile or other means of locomotion. Old tools are reused and turned, including lamps and other everyday objects. Steam punk designers like to use old-fashioned techniques such as riveting or plating for a fun vintage look. Copper colors and more generally the colors associated with the Victorian era are prioritized. It is important to make people believe in the working order of these fantastic pieces of furniture straight out of a Jules Verne novel.
Some architectural designs that were popular in the past are still popular today, and the Victorian style house is one of them. This style that originated in 1840 has withstood the test of time in the minds of many people. Most of these houses are rather large and have two floors with various details in common. The characteristics of a Victorian house are indicative of the era in which the style originated.
Technically, the Victorian house was most popular between 1840 and 1900, but there were many houses built in this style after that. The majority of houses built in this style are quite large, mainly because building materials were easier to obtain than in the 19th century. The introduction of the railroad allowed materials to be transported quickly and in bulk, and the typical lumber of the houses was slowly replaced by brick, paving the way for this style.
One of the most common features of a Victorian style house is a large wrap-around porch with decorative railings. Oversized sash windows are usually placed above the front door, and even the roofs are usually decorative and painted. In addition, turrets, stained glass windows and doors, and a high, steep roof are all common in this type of house.
There are many variations of the Victorian style house, as it has changed greatly over the decades. The Gothic Revival was the first type, characterized by arched windows, vertical siding and other Gothic elements that can be found on a church. The Italianate style was next, inspired by the villas found in northern Italy which had an octagonal body, a flat roof and right-angled towers. In 1855, the Second Empire style appeared, with dormers, a cupola on the roof of the house and a small porch. The Stick Style was next, popular in 1860, and featured exposed trusses, wood siding, and a rectangular body.
The next variation of the Victorian style house was the Folk Victorian of 1870, which had decorative trim and a simple, symmetrical form. These houses had elaborate features such as bay windows and turrets, which made them affordable and attractive to many people. The year 1874 gave birth to the Shingle Style, which was as decisive as the Victorian folk, but with an asymmetrical body, shingles, stone arches, and some additional decoration. The Queen Anne style took over in 1880 and is characterized by bay windows, ornate staircases, multiple turrets, large balconies and numerous colorful paintings. Finally, from 1880-1900, the Romanesque Revival style enhanced the rear of the Victorian style house, typically made of large stones with standard columns, Roman arches and complex floor plans.
The Victorian era marked many changes in British society, and many of these changes were reflected in the interior design. Many people consider this era to be a very romantic time in history, and they drew heavily on the Victorian era to design their homes, ranging from real Victorian homes maintained in an authentic period style to modern homes with Victorian-inspired interior design.
One of the major developments of the Victorian era was the industrial era, and the industrial era had a profound impact on interior design. By the way, here is an article on Victorian inventions that is very interesting. Before the advent of dry goods production, everything used to decorate a house was handmade, and only the truly wealthy could afford opulent home improvements. With the advent of commodification, the middle classes were able to afford items traditionally associated with the wealthy, and authentic Victorian interior design is dense, lavish, and ornate; it can be almost overwhelming to people who are accustomed to a freer modern aesthetic. Still it is interesting to hunt and visit stores or online stores. You can find things like posters, clocks and other objects of the time. For example, here is an interesting site that offers vintage, retro and other funky old school styles.
The Victorians may be remembered as being so stiff, but they loved deep, rich colors and textures. Victorian homes were often upholstered in very bold and bright patterns, including flocked, raised and velvety textures. The furnishings were equally brightly colored and richly textured, and the Victorian interior design featured much gilding, ornate carving and other lavish touches.
Because electricity was absent for much of the Victorian era, Victorian rooms were filled with an assortment of candles and lamps that provided low, warm light. The Victorian rooms tended to be very comfortable and warm, the floors were generally covered with lush rugs for those who could afford them, and painted sheets for those who could not. Other decorative touches included houseplants in ornate pots, sculptures and paintings. Some Victorian interior decorations were also imbued with Asian-inspired pieces, such as screens, because of the Chinese fashion that arrived with colonies such as Hong Kong in the 1850s.
Houses with a Victorian interior design that is faithful to the era can sometimes seem ridiculous to people today. As a result, most people are inspired by Victorian influences, but choose not to go all out in designing their homes. They may, for example, use typical colors on the walls to match with Victorian furniture, but avoid the clutter associated with authentic Victorian homes.
Voilà vaporists, the inspiration of the Victorian era in steampunk is ubiquitous and inseparable. There are many examples that I couldn't list to avoid indigestible pavement, but I'll reserve them for a future article. See you soon for a new journey in the exciting world of Steampunk!
Free shipping to USA, UK, CA & Europe
Payment secured with SSL encryption
All emails answered quickly (less than 24h)
14 days satisfaction guarantee & Simple returns