Dowries and foreign influences in fashion and taste in nineteenth-century Malta

Abstract

Women of all classes were expected to bring a dowry to their marriage, the size of which depended on the wealth of the families. Dowry agreements generally contained items such as furniture, clothing, jewellery, and various paraphernalia which were considered to be essential for the good running of the household. These legal records not only provide important markers that help identify the different social classes and their presumed wealth, but also the impact which foreign influences had on local fashion and taste. The scrutiny of 9 notarial registers pertaining to 6 notaries and spanning from 1831 to 1869, provide the basis for exploring such influences in nineteenth-century Malta, placing particular focus on jewellery.