richery

English

In poetry, possibly a contraction of rich array.^[1] Likely of rich +‎ -ery (“a class of things”); compare finery.

richery (countable and uncountable, plural richeries)

(uncommon, archaic) High-quality, ostentatious items that attract attention.
- 1925, “The House Carpenter”, in John Harrington Cox, editor, Folk-songs of the South, Harvard University Press, page 147:
  She dressed herself in richery,
  Most beauteous to behold;
  And as they walked along the street,
  She shined like glittering gold.
- 1928, Dornford Yates, Perishable Goods:
  The crimson hangings of the magnificent bed and the superb furniture and tapestries, the richery of the polished woodcarvings all reflects the departed majesty of ‘The Last of the Knights.’
- 1955, J.P. Donleavy, The Ginger Man, page 52:
  Better get back to the house or it'll weaken my position. Get her a little present, a fashion magazine filled with richery.
- 1982, Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht, Norman Studer, quoting ‘The Ship’s Carpenter’ as sung by George Edwards, Folk Songs of the Catskills, page 275:
  She dressèd herself in richery attire,
  And so gaily where she did dress;
  She went a-walkin’ up and down the deck
(rare) Riches; an abundance of anything desirable.
- 1990, James Hillman, “Eros”, in Essential James Hillman: A Blue Fire:
  Despite the richeries that can be dug out of Aphrodite’s myths, neither all of love nor all of therapy can be awarded to one god.

^ Leavy, Barbara Fass (1995) In Search of the Swan Maiden: A Narrative on Folklore and Gender, NYU Press, page 70: “While “richery” has been explained as a contraction of “rich array,” this does not contradict the singer’s possible intention to contrast purity with greed and corruption.”