Design for Curtains 1841 - 1884

This design for curtains was made by Charles Hindley and Sons of London. Though undated, the company’s history gives us a clue to the context of its production. As a furnishing and decorating firm, they supplied the growing middle and upper classes in Britain with fashionable goods for their homes. By looking at the design of these curtains, we can see the cultural values of that time reflected in the choice of materials and styles. The heavy drapery evokes a sense of formality and grandeur, aligning with the Victorian era’s emphasis on elaborate decoration and social display. The location of the firm, on Welbeck Street, in London, was significant, placing it in close proximity to wealthy clientele and other businesses involved in interior design. To understand the full story of these curtains, we might turn to trade publications, historical price lists, and pattern books. These resources would help reveal the aspirations and social norms that shaped the making—and the buying—of such designs.