Interior designLesson 1 of 1 in the course Materials and finishes

Upholstery: Materials, Historical Methods, and Specialized Applications

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Upholstery combines structure, padding, and covering to make furniture comfortable and finished. Its history also reflects changing crafts, fashions, and ways of furnishing rooms.

Upholstery is the work of providing furniture—especially seats—with padding, springs, webbing, and a fabric or leather cover. The word can also mean the materials used to upholster an object. Upholstery is used in domestic furniture as well as in cars, airplanes, and boats. It can also apply to mattresses, although their construction may differ from that of seats.

All flashcards

What is upholstery?
It is the craft of furnishing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and a fabric or leather cover; it can also mean the materials used.
Who is an upholsterer?
An upholsterer is a craftsperson who works with upholstery, building, covering, repairing, or restoring upholstered furnishings.
What did the historical term upholder often imply?
It often referred to an upholsterer whose work involved repairing furniture, rather than creating new upholstered pieces from scratch.
What was distinctive about 18th-century London upholders?
They could act as interior decorators, managing room furnishings and decoration, and belonged to the Worshipful Company of Upholders.
How did stitched edging affect cushion design under James VI and I?
It helped artisans form bespoke cushion shapes on wooden frames.

Quiz questions

  1. What work did coach trimmers typically perform in earlier vehicle production?Answer: They made soft furnishings, carpets, soft tops, and roof linings.
  2. Which conditions are major challenges for marine upholstery?Answer: Moisture, sunlight, and hard use.
  3. What is Tenara thread valued for in marine upholstery?Answer: Durability and resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
  4. What qualities make cellular polyurethane foam useful in modern furniture?Answer: It is lightweight and resilient, providing structure.
  5. Where is Webs Training Ltd, which specializes in furniture-manufacturing apprenticeships, located?Answer: Nottinghamshire.

Based on the Wikipedia article Upholstery, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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