Demand at first sight: The Centennial of 1876 as a catalyst for the consumer revolution in American interior design, 1876-1893

This dissertation examines the interconnection between consumption and culture in late nineteenth-century America, focusing on the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the United States' founding. This paper's purpose will be to determine what effect the Centennial had on American interior decoration and, thus, on American patterns of consumption between 1876 and 1893, the year of the Columbian Exposition, the next major international fair on American soil.; The Centennial Exhibition was the first successful international exposition held in the United States. Thirty-one thousand exhibitors displayed their countries' "Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine" in Philadelphia between May 10 to November 10, 1876. Almost ten million visitors viewed these displays first-hand. Exposure to such material abundance introduced Americans to new decorative and industrial arts products and new concepts for decorating the epicenter of nineteenth-century American life---the home.; The form and design of these household furnishings were influenced by such factors as cultural nationalism, ethnic heritage, and political status. A country's level of industrialization also played an important role in determining the appearance of the finished product. In the West, a movement to reform industrial arts design promoted an interest in the handicraft traditions of the past (historicism) and of Eastern cultures.; This information on interior decoration was first transferred by word-of-mouth, newspapers, photographs, and Centennial publications. From there, it was adopted by and incorporated into books, magazines, and trade journals dedicated to interior decoration and design. The Exposition led to the establishment of new institutions aimed at educating both consumer and producer to "good" taste. Among these new "teachers" were museums, schools of industrial design, decorative arts societies, and department and specialty stores. Old businesses were retooled and new businesses created to produce the "tasteful" commodities introduced at the Centennial. Many of these institutions and businesses could trace their roots directly to the Centennial.; After 1876, a rising standard of living and the increased production and affordability of goods allowed more Americans to acquire these decorative accessories for their homes. Education and accessibility continued to reinforce the demand engendered by the Centennial.