Merchants and luxury markets
Subtitle: the marchands merciers of eighteenth-century Paris
By: Carolyn Sargentson.
Publisher: Victoria and Albert Museum in association with the J. Paul Getty Museum
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Malibu, Calif
Language: eng
Number of pages: 224
Subjects: Merchants -- France -- Paris -- History -- 18th century.; Luxuries -- France -- Paris -- History -- 18th century.; Paris (France) -- Commerce -- History -- 18th century.; Paris (France) -- Social life and customs -- 18th century.
Description: Through a detailed examination of inventories and other previously unpublished records, Carolyn Sargentson offers a new perspective on the history of consumption, and she paints a fascinating picture of the luxury market during the decades that preceded the French Revolution.

Her text raises important questions about the life-cycle of objects and the way that they were valued, the trading options of merchants who operated within narrow margins of credit and cashflow, and the relationship between the different groups who were jostling for position and advantage in a competitive environment.

The chapters cover the range of the merciers' operations and are based on detailed case studies of families or aspects of trade in specialist markets. Subjects covered include the corporation of the merciers and their business practice, their role in design, imported goods and European imitations, novelty and innovation, the merciers' shops and the magasins anglais.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-209) and index.