The Most Valuable Status Symbols in the History of Conspicuous Consumption

Region: United States of America
Era of Popularity: 16th Century
Estimated Value (Today): $60*

Squirrels roam free in woodlands and make their homes among their natural surroundings…usually. Back in the 1700s they were popular pets throughout America. In some homes, they were even kept on little golden leashes. Even Benjamin Franklin kept one of the fluffy-tailed rodents. 

Pet Squirrel @ella777111 / Pinterest.com

When his beloved Mungo passed away, Franklin put pen to paper to write a sweet little poem in memorandum, saying, “Few squirrels were better accomplished, for he had a good education, had traveled far, and seen much of the world.” These days all squirrels get is a handful of leftover Walmart Great Value nuts if they’re lucky, nevermind a life of luxury. 

Squirrels are so common in wooded areas that almost 3,000 of them are thought to live in New York’s Central Park alone. Capturing one and keeping it as a pet would seem like a cruel practice now, but back then it was the epitome of class and distinction – even if they did occasionally bite.

Region: England
Era of Popularity: 20th Century
Estimated Value (Today): $500-$1000

Losing a tooth or two is something that most of us have to face at some stage in our lives. Getting dentures now may seem like a hardship, but back in 1960s England, it was a different story altogether. During that period and the years leading up to it, many working-class people thought that dentures were a sign of wealth. 

Dentures @AmazeShare / Facebook.com

In fact, according to dentists from the era, many people actively sought out having their teeth removed so they could have a shiny set of pearly whites instead. Dentures were sometimes presented as a dowry before marriage. Can you imagine what would happen to Colgate if this trend resurfaced? 

It’s difficult to imagine why some people would remove completely healthy teeth, but these were strange times. These days, status symbols come in many shapes and sizes thanks to the advancement of technology. Back then, the options were limited – and this was the result.

Region: Europe
Era of Popularity: Middle Ages
Estimated Value (Today): $500*

Fashion has been a status symbol for decades, with designers charging an extortionate amount of money for their wares. Although it may seem like a fairly modern occurrence, this tradition spans right back to the Middle Ages. Footwear was just as important then as it is now. 

Poulines @DavidTeague / Facebook.com

Europeans may not have been introduced to Nordstrom sales yet, but they were certainly concerned about what they wore on their feet. A type of shoe called the poulaine was all the rage. The highest members of society wore the style with incredibly large pointed toes that required ankle bracelets to hold them up. 

While this particular type of shoe may have fallen out of favor long ago, it’s not unusual for designers to create avante-garde shoes for the runway. When it comes to fashion, designs are constantly evolving, especially in the haute couture world.

Region: Various
Era of Popularity: Across History
Estimated Value (Today): $100-$1000+*

These days the military has an entire arsenal of weapons at its disposal, but there was a time in history where swords were the only way to defend yourself in battle. Not only were they made for the purpose of defeating the enemy, but some were also made for rich men to carry as accessories. 

Ornamental Swords @Knights Templar / Pinterest.com

In a time when Ralph Lauren had yet to exist, the noble gentry of the world would have customized swords encrusted with gems specially made. They would hang them on their belts every day as they went about their business to make them appear more distinguished and important. 

It didn’t matter if they never intended to use them, it was simply about the aesthetic. In fact, the less these swords got brandished, the better. They were far too expensive to be tainted by violence. In this case, it was all about looking the part.

Region: England
Era of Popularity: 18th Century
Estimated Value (Today): N/A

Back in 18th century England there were a lot of aristocrats with more money than sense. In some cases they were so incredibly wealthy that there was only one thing to be done about it: hire a hermit. Amazingly, one could hire a hermit to live in isolation on the land, just because. 

Hired Hermit @Johann Baptist Theobald Schmitt / Wikimedia Commons

The hermit’s contract would mean that they had to live on as little money as possible, commit to looking (and presumably smelling) filthy, and stick around for a set term. Once their contract was up, the hermit would be paid enough money so they would never have to think about work again. Beats slinging burgers at McDonald’s, doesn’t it? 

Living as a hermit did come with its drawbacks, though. Although exiting the job would set you up for life, the job itself was isolating by its very nature and didn’t win you a lot of friends in the local village. Having a family was out of the question, too.

Region: Japan
Era of Popularity: 19th Century
Estimated Value (Today): $30*

Western countries have put a focus on white teeth for decades. We have countless products that are tailored to make our teeth the shiniest they can possibly be, while some people even opt to have work done on them. The trend in 19th century Japan was the exact opposite. 

Blackened Teeth @sixpenceee / Pinterest.com

The blacker a woman’s teeth were, the healthier and more desirable she looked. Upper-class women would spend a crazy amount of time using vinegar, iron filings, and rice wine to make their teeth as black as possible. Sorry, Procter & Gamble. 

Amazingly, this trend hasn’t entirely worn out and is still prevalent in certain regions of Japan. It’s not uncommon to walk through villages and small towns in some parts and get a black smile. It’s just not quite as popular today as it was in the 19th century.

Region: New England
Era of Popularity: 21st Century
Estimated Value (Today): $100,000*

The 21st century isn’t immune to the odd status symbol, either – although this one may hide in plain sight. In New England, drivers go wild for low-numbered license plates. These oddities are considered to be family heirlooms in some cases, passed down through the generations. 

Rhode Island License Plate @EmmaVerner / Facebook.com

It may seem strange considering it’s just a hunk of metal, but the Registry of Motor Vehicles even holds a yearly lottery so that lucky drivers can win a low number. Landing a set of plates like this would make any New England native’s Ford the envy of all. 

Owners have been known to pay upwards of $100,000 to get their hands on one of these special plates. That may seem like an insane amount of money to some, but to others it’s a worthwhile forfeit to get their hands on a little slice of automotive history.

Region: United Kingdom
Era of Popularity: 18th Century
Estimated Value (Today): $8,000*

We are lucky enough to live in an age where most exotic fruit is readily available, even if it’s not grown in the country we live in. However, rewind a couple of centuries and large parts of the Earth were still being discovered. The first pineapple was brought back to Europe by Christopher Columbus. 

Pineapples @KevinKlimaPhotography / Shutterstock.com

By the 18th century, pineapples were so popular and considered such a rare delicacy that the wealthy were paying upward of $8,000 in today’s money for one. Amazingly they wouldn’t get devoured but would sit in the fruit bowls of stately mansions to be admired by visitors. If only Del Monte could command the same price today. 

Considering just how delicious pineapples are, it’s a crying shame to think that all these ludicrously expensive fruits did was sit and rot. However, Europeans in the 18th century were notorious lovers of pomp and circumstance, so it’s a fitting testament to the period.

Region: China
Era of Popularity: Tang Dynasty-1912
Estimated Value (Today): N/A

Foot binding in China first became popular during the Tang Dynasty. The painful practice saw the toes and bones of the arch broken so the feet could be wrapped together in order to form a shape known as “lotus feet.” 

Shoes For Foot Binding @Tittat H / Pinterest.com

Women would often have to succumb to the tortuous tradition if they wanted to marry well. Apparently, doing this would give off the impression of wealth as the woman must come from a well-to-do family if she wasn’t able to carry out any kind of work. The practice was finally outlawed in 1912, although it was closer to 1950 by the time it died out entirely. 

It’s thought that the practice was made popular by a dancer called Yao Niang. When she performed for the emperor at the time, he was entranced and it didn’t take long for binding to become the latest fashion. Ideally, women would have feet as little as three or four inches to be considered “desirable.”

Region: Silicon Valley, California, USA
Era of Popularity: 21st Century
Estimated Value (Today): $20,000*

Raising chickens used to be a cheap way to ensure you never run out of eggs, but that way of thinking could be a thing of the past. Over the past few years keeping chickens has steadily become more of a trend than a practicality, especially in Silicon Valley. 

Luxury Chicken Coop @Brianna Sanchez / Pinterest.com

According to a report by CBS, some of the wealthiest home owners have gone all out to make sure their chickens are the most pampered pets around. From coops with stained glass windows to ones that look like miniature farmhouses, these hens are slowly rising up through the pecking order. You won’t catch any of these on the meat counter in Walmart any time soon. 

Not only is it great for the chickens, but it means that these coops don’t look out of place in the gardens of sprawling Silicon Valley mansions. Instead, they’re just another design feature that happens to have a hidden purpose.

Region: Europe
Era of Popularity: 18th Century
Estimated Value (Today): Unknown

We have chocolate in abundance in the 21st century. It’s so readily available that most of us don’t think of it as a luxury, but as another item we can purchase at the grocery store. Back in the 18th century, it was the trademark of France’s elite. 

Hot Cocoa @Christopher Leonard / Pinterest.com

It was such a rarity that anyone not traveling in these ultra-exclusive bourgeoise circles would likely never have seen it. Drinking chocolate and hot cocoa were particularly fashionable. Little did the aristocracy know then that chocolate would soon become readily available and incredibly lucrative for brands like Hershey.

It’s almost impossible for anyone to imagine a life without chocolate these days, but back then it was the sensation that swept the globe. It was much talked about, much sought after, and much enjoyed by those lucky enough to get their hands on it.

Region: England
Era of Popularity: 19th Century
Estimated Value (Today): N/A

Dinner parties always call for entertainment, although these days we might just play a game of Trivial Pursuit or Charades after dessert. Back in the 19th century, Victorian England had a different idea of fun. At a time when the discoveries in Egypt were all the rage, buying a mummy and unwrapping it was the ultimate party prize. 

Mummy Unveiling @Vice Magazine / Pinterest.co.uk

In some cases, the entire mummies were just laid out for guests to observe, but on occasion, lucky diners may be invited to take the bandages off to see what lay underneath. It’s not something we would even consider today, but there’s a reason why the era is often hailed as macabre. 

Victorians weren’t opposed to the odd game of cards either, but why play boring parlor games when you could unwrap an Ancient Egyptian? It’s not quite an after-dinner cheese board, but it likely still gave guests nightmares before bed.

Region: Persia
Era of Popularity: 19th Century
Estimated Value (Today): N/A

Beauty standards today are arguably questionable, but they lean towards the more polished and airbrushed models we see on the cover of magazines. Whether that’s right is a point of contention in the fashion industry, but back in 19th century Persia it wouldn’t even have been up for debate. 

Princess Qajar of Persia @9GAG / Pinterest.com

In fact, Persian men considered women with extra body hair (including facial hair) to be the epitome of beauty. Curves were also looked upon favorably. Things have changed a lot since then, but it’s interesting to note just how different cultures have measured attractiveness over the years. 

Of course, beauty standards are constantly evolving and never set in stone. Today’s Instagram sensation could be tomorrow’s Attila the Hun. Everything can change on a dime. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, no matter where you are in the world.