Patent model for adjustable reclining chairs 1873

Editor: Here we have George A. Schastey's "Patent model for adjustable reclining chairs" from 1873. It's made of mixed-media including wood. I'm really struck by how delicate the details are, especially on something intended for a patent. What can you tell me about this model? Curator: What strikes me is the contrast between the intended functionality – mass production, comfort – and the handcrafted nature of this miniature. The very materiality of this object speaks to a tension inherent in industrialization: the desire for efficiency versus the continued presence of individual labor. What was the social context of furniture production at this time? Editor: I believe furniture manufacturing was shifting from small workshops to larger factories, especially in urban areas, and catering to a growing middle class with increasing disposable income. Curator: Precisely. This model represents that pivotal moment. Note the contrasting textures and embellishments: the smooth wood versus the heavily decorated fabric. It hints at an earlier, craft-based production, even while serving the purpose of advancing mass production. Consider also the materials chosen, seemingly luxurious at first glance but ultimately models representing future consumer goods. Is there a deliberate intent to elevate a quotidian object, or merely to demonstrate its function? Editor: So you're saying it straddles the line between demonstrating functional design and holding onto earlier craft practices? I didn't consider that! It really complicates what seems at first glance to just be a little chair. Curator: Exactly. Consider too how Schastey is implicated. Was he directly involved in production, or just design? The model asks more questions than it answers, challenging notions of artistic creation, labor, and the commodity. Editor: That's fascinating, it completely changed how I viewed this object! Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. Reflecting on how objects come into being opens up avenues for considering broader cultural shifts.