Design for Curtains 1841 - 1917

This is a design for curtains made in England by Charles Hindley and Sons in the late 19th century. At first glance, it shows an elaborate window dressing, replete with swags, tails and ornate trim, all rendered with exquisite detail. But this drawing is also an artifact of the industrial revolution in Britain. It shows how the domestic sphere became increasingly subject to manufactured goods. Interior decorating firms such as Hindley and Sons became popular because they could offer standardized designs that were applied across different homes. They brought fashion and design to a wider section of society. These kinds of drawings are useful resources for social historians. They remind us that even seemingly innocuous household items have a history that is embedded in larger structures of industrial production and consumption. The image prompts us to ask, who had access to these goods? What were the working conditions of those who produced them?