Includes bibliographical references (p. [285]-311) and index
Focusing on the luxury trade in fashionable wear and accessories in Venice, Florence, and other towns in Italy, Gilding the Market investigates a major shift in patterns of consumption at the height of medieval prosperity, which, more remarkable, continued through the subsequent era of plague, return of plague, and increased warfare. The quest for luxuries affected markets by enlarging exchange activity and encouraging retail trades. As both consumers and tradesmen, local goldsmiths, long-distance traders, bankers, and money changers played important roles in creating this new age of fashion. In response to the greater public display of luxury goods, civic sumptuary laws were written to curb spending and extreme fashion. -- Dust Jacket
Clothing and dress-- Italy-- History-- Medieval, 500-1500
Consumption (Economics)-- Italy-- History-- To 1500