This book presents a concise analysis of the many influences on furniture design in the Victorian period both in Britain and the US. Edwards investigates the development of new and traditional materials and innovative techniques and machinery, to show how these changed the face of furniture design and production. Until recently, the history of furniture has been concerned with individual designers, the aesthetic appreciation of their products and the assumption that furniture is solely a decorative art. This book challenges these notions and brings techniques and materials to the forefront of the debate about how design decisions were made. Using a range of sources, the book covers mechanical decoration (marquetry, fretwork, imitation carving), veneering, decorative finishes, manufacturing and patents. A range of newly developed materials are described along with the design possibilities that they opened up, including plywood, bentwood, papier mache, lamination, upholstery springs, wicker and metal.