Consumption of furniture and furnishings for the home in the West Midlands using local suppliers 1760-1860
Using a framework of design history and theories of consumption, the production, ownership and use of furniture and furnishings is examined, to obtain an understanding of the material culture of the home, its physical reality and cultural meaning. Homes during the period 1760-1860 are the focus for study. During this period homes changed considerably. At the outset interiors were relatively bare despite the gradual accumulation of consumer goods during the eighteenth century. By contrast, at the close of the period interiors had become more crowded and comfortable, this was mainly due to the increased use and the methods of using textiles. This has been called the feminisation of interiors. How social and cultural changes affected provincial homes is studied, firstly by analysing the furniture trade for a number of towns in the West Midlands which experienced different social and commercial development. Secondly, examples of homemaking are examined using consumers who lived throughout the region. Provincial taste of the middling sort is the main focus of study, rather than the metropolitan and elite forms of consumption which have often attracted more attention. Sources are utilised which span the period 1760-1860
Ponsonby, Margaret
History
Consumption of furniture and furnishings for the home in the West Midlands using local suppliers 1760-1860. Using a framework of design history and theories of consumption, the production, ownership and use of furniture and furnishings is examined, to obtain an understanding of the material culture of the home, its physical reality and cultural meaning. Homes during the period 1760-1860 are the focus for study. During this period homes changed considerably. At the outset interiors were relatively bare despite the gradual accumulation of consumer goods during the eighteenth century. By contrast, at the close of the period interiors had become more crowded and comfortable, this was mainly due to the increased use and the methods of using textiles. This has been called the feminisation of interiors. How social and cultural changes affected provincial homes is studied, firstly by analysing the furniture trade for a number of towns in the West Midlands which experienced different social and commercial development. Secondly, examples of homemaking are examined using consumers who lived throughout the region. Provincial taste of the middling sort is the main focus of study, rather than the metropolitan and elite forms of consumption which have often attracted more attention. Sources are utilised which span the period 1760-1860
consumption furniture furnish home west_midlands use local supplier using framework_design history theory consumption production ownership use furniture furnishing examine obtain material_culture home physical reality cultural_meaning period focus study period home change considerably outset interior relatively bare despite gradual accumulation consumer good contrast close period interior become comfortable mainly_due increase_use method_use textile call interior social_cultural change_affect provincial home study firstly analyse furniture trade number town west_midlands experience different social commercial development secondly example examine use consumer live throughout_region provincial taste middle_sort main_focus study rather metropolitan elite form consumption often attract_attention sources utilise span_period