Design for Cushioned Bench 1841 - 1884

Curator: It's lovely, almost quaint. So delicately rendered. Editor: We're looking at "Design for Cushioned Bench," attributed to Charles Hindley and Sons, likely created sometime between 1841 and 1884. It's a watercolor and possibly a print, on paper, housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: The floral motif definitely speaks to the Victorian era. I wonder, was this a study for a specific commission, or perhaps part of a larger catalogue of furniture designs? Editor: That's exactly the kind of context that interests me. Hindley and Sons were prominent furniture makers; this drawing offers a glimpse into the design and manufacturing processes of the 19th century, moving furniture from handcrafted to produced item. Were they marketing to the rising middle class, eager for patterned goods, or crafting items for wealthy homes? Curator: You know, when I look at the sketch, it gives me such a sense of the craft. The very specific floral arrangement speaks to the care given over its look, it makes you realize how far people once went in consideration of a good's surface. Editor: Agreed. And thinking of that surface, I am considering its role in the social lives of the time; furnishings became markers of status and good taste in that time period. Where would this bench be located within the Victorian home? How would people interact with it, display it? This work gives insight into both those design aspirations and the broader trends in material culture of the time. Curator: Absolutely. Plus the bench would have been produced, shipped, retailed, bought, placed within the house. To analyze such an object allows an appreciation for the immense social effort around furnishing spaces. Editor: Yes, even this design tells a material story that extends beyond its aesthetic appeal. So interesting! Curator: It truly is. I find my perception of it altered now, thanks to that. Editor: Likewise.