Ten Odd Status Symbols Through Time
People enjoy showing off their social status to impress those around them. Titles are a common status symbol, but they don’t tell someone at a glance if they should be admiring another party. Other status symbols can be used to help. At different times, various objects were used to identify the elite. This allowed someone to determine if someone was worth admiring. Some status symbols are still a bit logical, but others are just bizarre. Check out these ten strange status symbols through the ages.
1. Mummies
During the Victorian era, Egyptomania gripped many richer households. They would display mummies in their homes to show their love for Egypt. The guests were able to see the corpses being unwrapped. Pineapples
Royal gardener presenting a pineapple to King Charles II, 1675. Public Domain Image.
The BBC reports that Europeans regarded pineapples as a luxury, and they became a status symbol. It was not uncommon for people to display pineapples instead of eating them. As a result, they would eventually rot where they sat.
Additionally, it was possible to rent pineapples for parties. They were used as decor to demonstrate that the family could afford to buy one. Crakows
Crakows were a type of shoe that became popular in the 15th century in Europe. The shoes were impractical because they had long toes, which could extend anywhere between a few inches and 20 inches past the tip of a foot. The long toe was simply a fashion statement, though some associated longer lengths as a sign of the increased “masculinity” for the wearer.
Eventually, lawmakers stepped in, limiting the length of the toe. The status symbol became less popular as a result. Follies
Broadway Tower, Worcestershire, England. An example of a foolish. Image source: Wikipedia.
A folly is basically a fake ruin of a castle. These large structures were very popular in Britain from the 18th to the 19th century. They served no other purpose but to show off a person’s wealth, or as a place for games and entertainment. Here is a list with some interesting follies.
5. Gout was considered a rich man’s disease because it was associated with the kind of over consumption that would only be possible among the wealthier classes during that time. Gout was a disease of the rich because it was linked to the type of excessive consumption only possible for the wealthy classes in the 19th century. Bound Feet
Photograoph of a Chinese Woman with Bound Feet, Lai Afong, c1870s. Public Domain Images.
It was painful and often resulted in deformities, resulting in a foot that was no longer than three inches long. The practice often led to deformities and the foot would be no longer than three inches. The practice was outlawed in 1912 to prevent others from participating in the tradition.
7. Board Games
While today board games are popular, this wasn’t always true. Originally, they were used to highlight status. They were often made of high-cost materials and featured intricately crafted pieces. They were therefore associated with wealthier people.
8. Sugar
Sugar Crystals on a Black Background. Source: Flickr.
Sugar used to be a status symbol in the Middle Ages. Sugar sculptures were displayed in homes as subtleties. They were made to look like people, animals and buildings. Additionally, they were edible, often ending up as part of an opulent meal for high-valued guests.
During Victorian times, sugar led to another status symbol: blackened teeth. People colored their teeth black to simulate decayed teeth, which was a sign of wealth. Source: Gizmodo.com.
9. Hermits
Some European nobility would hire “hermits”, to live in their estates. They would also have them play the stereotypical role of the hermit to show that they were able to afford another person. This would include poor hygiene standards, preaching to visitors or scaring guests as they explored a folly. X-Rays
Example of an x-ray photograph of a video game controller.
During early 20th-century, x rays were viewed as a novelty. MSN.com reports that people were fascinated by the idea of seeing their skeletons and would get xrays just to show off the image. Owning an x-ray was seen as a status sign because of the high level of interest in this technology. In later research, it was revealed that x-rays at high doses are harmful to health. Their popularity waned. What Makes A Status Icon? Briefly stated, a status icon shows status due to its relation to social class.
A symbol of status is usually an object which signifies a high level of social or economic standing. The definition of a status icon has evolved over time, and with cultural context. Thorstein Veblin, a late American sociologist, offered an intriguing explanation of what makes a symbol of status. Veblin said that status items in any context conveyed status, because they suggested the owner was part of the upper classes. In the case of fashion it implied that the person didn’t do manual labor.
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Do you know of any other odd status symbols throughout time? Share your thoughts below.
