The design and development of furniture over the centuries had been steady and predictable. It was largely influenced by the availability of materials, and the changing fashions of the eras. Armoires were designed for suits of armour, but later became wardrobes for clothing. Chairs lost their arms to accommodate wide skirts, and became upholstered and comfortable to fit in with the drawing rooms of fashionable ladies. To quote William Cowper: Necessity invented stools, convenience next suggested elbow-chairs, and luxury the accomplish'd Sofa last. The 19th century had been dominated by fine cabinetmakers such as Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton, and their craftsmanship and designs are still loved and admired today. However, more change was on the horizon in the later part of the 19th century, with the Arts and Crafts movement, as it became known, which integrated craft traditions with mass production techniques aimed at the growing mass markets. Thomas Hope (1769-1831) Hope...