ABSTRACT
Public debates about taste and style in the first part of the nineteenth century expressed concerns regarding an alleged lack of taste on the part of cabinet-makers and upholsterers, and argued that artisans needed better education in matters of taste. This view was represented in Household Furniture and Interior Decoration by Thomas Hope, a wealthy connoisseur and collector who attacked the taste displayed by upholsterers. However, Hope was himself criticised by some of his contemporaries for his 'ungentlemanly behaviour'. Hope's view of taste, as a connoisseur and collector, differed from that of the craftsmen-designers. The shift towards the separation of design and production and the diffusion of ready-made products were apparent in the years 1830-60. Nevertheless, producers and consumers continued with their own ways of forming taste and deciding styles, as well as pursuing quality and long-term use.
