From recipes for plague amulets to aphrodisiacs and formulas for everything from lip balm to paint pigments, this book takes you into the secret world of Renaissance trades and explains why certain recipes were jealously guarded whilst others were printed for a new popular readership. New and extensive research offers intriguing insights into the use of obscure, exotic and toxic ingredients and explains now unfamiliar or arcane techniques. Each recipe is linked to real objects from the V&A's outstanding collections. Strikingly designed and beautifully illustrated, Renaissance Secrets reveals the compelling stories behind the original recipes.