People often enjoy showing off their social status, making sure that those around them are impressed by their status. Although titles are one of the most common status symbols, they won’t let someone know immediately that they should respect another group. This is where other status symbols come into play. Different things at different times were associated with the elite, which allows someone to say that someone deserves praise. While some status symbols made sense, even today, others were strange. Here’s a look at ten signs of unusual situations throughout the season.
1. Mothers
During the Victorian era, Egyptomania gripped many wealthy homes. Another way they showed their appreciation for Egypt was by buying mummies, which they would place in their homes.
The extremely rich even went so far as to throw endless parties. There, guests would watch as the bodies were revealed.
2. Pineapple
Although pineapples are widely available around the world today, thanks to advances in transport and transportation, this was not the case a few hundred years ago. The BBC reports that, as a result, Europeans consider the pineapple to be an incredibly luxurious item, making it a status symbol.
It was not uncommon for consumers to simply display the pineapple instead of eating it. As a result, they would rot where they sat.
Additionally, it was possible to rent a pineapple for parties. In those cases, they were decorative items, used simply to show that the family had the ability to afford the event.
3. Krakows
Crakows were a shoe brand that became popular in the 15th centuryth century in Europe. They were incredibly awkward, with long, elongated toes that extended anywhere from a few inches to 20 or more inches past the end of the human foot. The long toe was simply a fashion, although some associated the long toe as a sign of increased “masculinity” in the wearer.
Eventually, lawmakers stepped in, limiting the toe length. As a result, the status symbol quickly became very small.
4. Fools
Folly is actually the ruin of a fake castle. Large buildings were popular in the United Kingdom from the 18th centuryth at 19th for centuries, serving no other purpose than to display one’s wealth or to be the center of party games or similar forms of entertainment. You can find a list of interesting follies here.
5. An ulcer
Although it may be difficult to imagine that a painful medical condition can be considered a sign of status, it was so during the 19th century.th a century. Gout was considered a disease of the wealthy because it was associated with a type of overuse that could only occur among the wealthy classes during that time.
6. Bound Feet
Foot binding was a painful process that young women would undergo in China. It has led to a significant disability, usually ensuring that the foot is no more than three centimeters long.
The final result – which was called “lotus feet” – was considered a very desirable feature, including at the beginning of the 20th.th a century. However, this practice was banned in 1912, preventing others from participating in this tradition.
7. Board Games
Although board games are common today, they weren’t always like that. Instead, they were once used as status gifts. Many featured carefully crafted, handcrafted pieces made from expensive materials. As a result, they associated with rich people.
8. Sugar
Sugar was once a status symbol during the Middle Ages. As a result, families would make exhibitions with sugar sculptures, which were called trickery. Subtle objects were designed to resemble buildings, animals and people. Additionally, they were edible, often becoming part of the luxury diet of high-value guests.
In Victorian times, sugar led to another status symbol: dark teeth. Rotten teeth were considered a sign that you couldn’t buy sugar, so people colored their teeth to simulate decay. Source: Gizmodo.com.
9. The Hermits
Some European nobles hired “hermits” to live on their estates. As well as showing that they can bring another person, they will make someone play the stereotypical hermit role. That would include having no standards of hygiene and preaching to visitors or even scaring visitors who were exploring the foolishness.
10. X-rays
At the beginning of the 20thth century, x-rays were treated as a novelty. According to MSN.com, people are fascinated by the idea of being able to see their own bones, which has resulted in many getting x-rays to show the resulting image. Since interest in technology was so high, having your own x-ray machine was often considered a status symbol. Later studies would show that high doses of x-rays were dangerous to your health and their popularity waned.
What Makes a Status Symbol?
In summary: a status symbol indicates status because of its relationship to social class.
A status symbol is generally considered to indicate the owner’s high social or economic standing. What determines a status symbol has changed over time and cultural context. However, another interesting explanation of what constitutes a status symbol is provided by the American sociologist Thorstein Veblin. Veblin argued that in all cases, status items convey status because they suggest that the owner of the item was a member of the upper class – and in the case of fashion, that person did not do manual labor.
Read more:
- What Are the Common Characteristics of Millionaires?
- 9 Habits of Rich People You Should Follow
- 4 Financial and Legal Obstacles to Becoming a Millionaire
Do you know any other signs of an abnormal condition throughout the period? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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