Table of Contents

Contents: Preface; Introduction; Early developments in furniture retailing and consumption; The rise of the retail tastemaker: 18th century furniture retailing and distribution; From being to well-being: the growing demand for comfort and convenience in the 18th century home; The retail revolution: the response to the demands from the 19th century consumer; Aestheticisation of everyday life: 19th century homes and their importance in society; 20th century retail responses: from mass to niche marketing; Changing visions of the ideal and the real: the consumption of home furnishings in the 20th century; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author

Clive Edwards is a Senior Lecturer and Research Co-ordinator in the School of Art and Design at Loughborough University, UK.

Reviews

'This book is a well of ideas and information about how furniture has been an essential part of modern ideas of comfort and living, and will make profitable reading for social and cultural students of consumption as well as for economic historians.' European History Review '... this is a book that tries to think through and integrate new approaches to objects, culture and consumption with neglected areas of the history of furniture and furnishings (retailing and the making of 'home'). All those who wish to follow in this relatively uncharted area will find much to interest them here.' Furniture History Society Newsletter '... this is a richly useful book, which brings together otherwise largely disparate topics and students or researchers in a number of fields would be wise to consult it.' Urban History 'This well-written and clearly organized book is a synthetic and descriptive account.' Business History Reviews