It is easy to think, in the age of Pinterest and the Knot, that weddings have never before been so extravagant.  Without knowing the history of weddings in the West, we all too often find ourselves rolling our eyes at 30,000 dollar weddings.  But, those tasty, miniature, artisanal canapés with pickle remoulade (at fifteen dollars...

Even today, in the twenty-first century, when we think of ribbons and bows we tend to think of girls, not boys.  This design from 1755, has both ribbons and bows, but was designed by an Englishman: Thomas Chippendale.  What is more, it was published in a book meant exclusively for men: The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s...

Above all flowers, Queen Marie Antoinette prized roses. She was often painted with roses in hand or displayed in her hair. Certain portraits—as well as this mirror design from 1781–90—featured rose garlands as decorative motifs. Though roses were her favorite, all flowers were of great importance to the Queen, both wild and cultivated. She had...