Over the last couple of centuries, hundreds if not thousands of trade catalogues have been produced. All are of varying quality and quantity, but a good example of a well produced catalogue were those published by the London based company Hampton & Sons.
Hampton & Sons were well known for the quality and versatility of their publications. Their trade catalogues showed examples of interiors in various styles, many of which were part of their ‘artistic interiors’ range.
Artistic interiors was a reference to a middle class affectation whereby interiors would take on a very lukewarm ideal of Bohemianism, not too shocking, but just colourful and unusual enough to qualify as unconventional to the more conservative members of Victorian society.
It was all fairly innocent and harmless and very far from any real Bohemian lifestyle. However, Hampton & Sons would supply this section of middle class affectation, as they would their more conventional customers, with furniture, carpets, curtains, blinds, ceramics, glass, and metal ware, all of which would be advertised within their glossy trade catalogues.
An example of a couple of pages of one of their 1892 catalogues are illustrated here.
As can be seen, Hampton & Sons did not stint on the quality of their publication. They wanted their merchandise to appear at its best and for the colour range to be made fully available to their customers and suppliers whether they be traditionally minded or part-time Bohemian.
