Presents the history of jewellery in the age of Victoria. This book focuses on the attitudes of owners to their jewellery and the symbolic weight that it was expected to carry

• Queen Victoria : a life in jewellery
• The role of jewellery, public and private
• Jewellery and dress
• The language of jewellery
• The cult of novelty. What the papers say : jewellery and topical events ; Jewellery and scientific or technical inventions ; The impact of the stage ; Surprise, deception and not so hidden messages ; Nature imitating nature : jewellery and animal products
• Britain and the world. The international exhibitions ; Links with the East : India, the Islamic world, China and Japan ; The role of "peasant" and regional jewellery from continental Europe
• Nationalism and historical styles in jewellery. Historical revival jewellery in England ; Historicism in France : style romantique and Renaissance revival ; Germany and the passion for "Alt-Deutsch"
• Archaeological discoveries and national identity. The Egyptian revival ; The Assyrian revival ; The Castellani and the Italian Risorgimento ; The influence of Castellani outside Italy ; The Scandinavian revival ; The Celtic vival and Irish national identity ; The recreation of tradition in Scotland
• Victorian cameos
• Souvenirs of travel at home and abroad