The Eighteenth–Century London Upholder

This book examines London’s eighteenth–century upholding trade. Primarily providing household furniture and upholstery goods and services at the beginning of the century, by mid-century upholders provided stylish and fashionable residential interior furnishings, funeral undertaking, and a secondary market for used household goods. Upholders were at the forefront of the development of Britain’s material culture, and were important contributors to London’s economic and social fabric in the eighteenth century.

The Introduction provides context to the social and business lives of upholders. Surveyed are key topics including apprenticeship, livery companies, empire, material culture, consumerism, taste and fashion, advertising, and credit. Chapter Two focuses on how upholders came to dominate the funeral undertaking business. Chapter Three details how upholders integrated brokering, appraising, and auctioneering into their businesses.

Two case studies of financially successful upholders are included in this book. They were specialized rather than general upholders and became wealthy by investing the profits from their niche businesses into new commercial opportunities. Investigation of their successes delved into diverse topics such as East India Company, banking, royal household tradesmen, and military contracting to create an understanding of their business and social lives.

Upholders adapted to the economic changes and interior furnishing trends that took place in the first half of the century when consumer demand increased for household goods, fuelled by the widespread use of personal credit. The excessive use of personal credit was also responsible for an increase in upholder bankruptcies after 1760 when, motivated by profit, upholders expanded their business lines. This book tells the story of the business, social, and personal lives of London’s eighteenth–century upholders and how they were instrumental in creating a new domestic commerce.