Middle-rank consumers and domestic culture in Edinburgh and Glasgow 1720-1840

Author

Nenadic, Stana

Document type

Article (journal)

Language

English

Source

Past & present. 1994, Num. 145, 122-156

ISSN

0031-2746

Abstract (en)

The author asks: What does evidence on the middle-rank acquisition and possession of objects, and the use of objects in everyday life, say about the nature of consumer motivations and domestic culture relative to theories of emulation, functionalism, or the persistence of custom. Drawing upon Scottish inventories, Nenadic discusses: 1) the acquisition of household objects, i.e., furnishings and personal clothing; 2) household objects and the use of rooms, especially dining rooms; and 3) gender and domestic culture. The author concludes that, while the discourse on luxury and emulation in 18th c. accounts of consumer behaviour offers a fascinating insight into elite anxieties, it represents only a limited explanation of consumer motivations and domestic culture among other social groups. Appended is a list of furniture contained in the dining rooms and principal bedrooms of four Scottish houses, 1718-1839.

Subject (en)

• General history of art -- 1400-1800 -- Decorative arts -- United Kingdom
• Furnishings
• Great Britain
• 1700-1900
• Scotland (GBR)
• Consumers
• Middle classes
• Costume
• Domestic life
• Gender (sex)
• Edinburgh (GBR)
• Glasgow (GBR)

Subject (fr)

• Histoire générale de l'art -- 1400-1800 -- Arts décoratifs -- Royaume-Uni
• Ameublement
• Grande-Bretagne
• 1700-1900
• Scotland (GBR)
• Consommateurs
• Classe moyenne
• Costume
• Vie domestique
• Sexe (catégorie)
• Edinburgh (GBR)
• Glasgow (GBR)

Origin

DatabaseBHA (Inist-CNRS/GRI)

Identifier19960401-00284854

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