Luxury Trades and Consumerism in Ancien Régime Paris: Studies in the History of the Skilled Workforc

Since the 16th century, Paris has been a leading arbiter of taste and the ultimate source of luxury goods for Europe and the world. However, the origins of these luxury trades and their wider impact have been little examined. This book presents eight case studies of specific trades with five more wide-ranging and theoretical contributions. These papers analyse the interplay of technical and economic factors which contributed to their growth, and the roles of patronage and consumerism stimulating it.