The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide: being a Complete Drawing Book; in which will be comprised Treatises on Geometry and Perspective, as applicable to the above branches of mechanics 1828

George Smith's "The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide" was published in London in 1826. It showcases the kind of detailed craftsmanship that defined early 19th-century British design. Consider this guide within the context of the Industrial Revolution. The rise of factories and mass production threatened traditional artisan skills. Smith’s guide was more than just a pattern book; it was an assertion of the value of skilled labor, and the artistic merit of handmade furniture. These designs catered to the tastes of the British upper and middle classes, reflecting their aspirations for refined domestic settings. Smith’s detailed illustrations offered a vision of a well-furnished home, reinforcing the idea of domestic space as a reflection of social status and personal identity. Smith wasn't just designing furniture; he was shaping a cultural landscape, dictating the aesthetic values of his time, and perhaps also preserving an ideal of craftsmanship in a rapidly changing world.