© 2003 by Design History Society
Historical Revivals, Commercial Enterprise and Public Confusion: Negotiating Taste, 1860–1890
Victoria and Albert Museum
 |
Abstract |
|---|
The history of fashionable taste in interior decoration has often included historic revivals, but during this period the almost bewildering array of styles based on national, foreign and exotic sources required the investigative skills and influential arguments of design reformers and authors of advice manuals to guide consumer in the development of their personal taste at home. While museums and exhibitions offered vistors focused displays and other opportunities to increase their knowledge of historical or exotic styles, designers, manufacturers,dealers and retailers competed to attract customers with attractive catalogues and alluring collections of fashionable designs and products based on historic models, hoping to encourages greater commitment and therefore more investment from those eager to furnish their homes in the lastest style. The consumer was thus educated, persuaded, influenced and finally manipulated into adopting whatever current style in home decorating and furnishing stated their income, pratical considerations and personaleducations.
Key Words: advice literature • catalogues • collecting • furniture • historism • South Kensington Museum