The making and possessing of quality : the metalware trades in England, c. 1675-1785
This thesis considers the historical evolution of the concept of quality of manufacture by analysing a key sector and product in the British economy in the late-seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: the production of metal goods (silver, copper and new alloys) for which towns such as Birmingham and Sheffield became well known nationally and internationally. It builds upon recent research that argues that quality was a convention, which was debated and deliberated at different points in time and in particular cultural contexts. By analysing a range of sources, from documentary evidence to popular literature, visual sources and artefacts, this thesis argues that the expansion of the trade led to changes in the regulation of the metalware trade, in which the guilds had to rely on consumers and the public to report substandard metalware. This change co-existed with the increasing consumer interest in novelty, innovation and production, and led to the circulation of knowledge about quality between regulator, producer and consumer. Therefore, regulators and producers remained influential in the deliberation of quality. Although there was the increasing importance of novelty and fashionability, the regulated intrinsic
Morton, Rachael
DA Great Britain ; HD Industries. Land use. Labor
The making and possessing of quality : the metalware trades in England, c. 1675-1785. This thesis considers the historical evolution of the concept of quality of manufacture by analysing a key sector and product in the British economy in the late-seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: the production of metal goods (silver, copper and new alloys) for which towns such as Birmingham and Sheffield became well known nationally and internationally. It builds upon recent research that argues that quality was a convention, which was debated and deliberated at different points in time and in particular cultural contexts. By analysing a range of sources, from documentary evidence to popular literature, visual sources and artefacts, this thesis argues that the expansion of the trade led to changes in the regulation of the metalware trade, in which the guilds had to rely on consumers and the public to report substandard metalware. This change co-existed with the increasing consumer interest in novelty, innovation and production, and led to the circulation of knowledge about quality between regulator, producer and consumer. Therefore, regulators and producers remained influential in the deliberation of quality. Although there was the increasing importance of novelty and fashionability, the regulated intrinsic
make possess quality trade england considers historical_evolution concept quality manufacture analyse key sector product british economy production metal good silver copper new alloy towns birmingham sheffield become well_know nationally internationally build_upon recent argues quality convention debate deliberate different point_time particular cultural_context analyse range_source documentary_evidence popular literature visual source artefact argue expansion trade lead change regulation trade guild rely consumer public report change co_existed increase consumer interest novelty innovation production lead circulation knowledge quality producer consumer therefore producer remain influential deliberation quality although increase importance novelty regulate intrinsic