[f. UPHOLSTER sb.] Upholsterer’s work or materials; spec. the fabrics and materials used in the covering and stuffing of furniture; the collective use of these in a room or house.
1649. J. Taylor (Water P.), Western Voy., 13. In the Mount I saw a craggy rugged seat, of Rocky Upholstery, which the old fabulous rumour calls St. Michaels Chair.
1653. Ordin. Contin. Excise, 17 March, 111. Linnens fine and course, Upholstery, Haberdashery [etc.].
1756. W. Owen, Bk. Fairs (1788), 62. Hacheston, Suffolk, Nov. 12., for boots, shoes, upholstery, and joiners.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., iv. Mantelpieces, carved cornice-work,… carpets and costly upholstery.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, I. vi. 147. The bedrooms had been improved by modern upholstery.
transf. 1850. Ld. Osborne, Gleanings W. Irel., 86. There were drills, and carts, and other farm upholstery.
fig. 1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIV. viii. III. 737. Fantastic Bielfeld … becomes positively wearisome, chanting the upholsteries of Life.
b. attrib. and Comb.
1803. Sheraton, Cabinet Dict. (title-p.), The Terms used in the Cabinet, Chair and Upholstery Branches.
1844. M. F. Ossoli, Wom. in 19th C. (1862), 99. She … is, in short, always spoken and thought of upholstery-wise.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks., II. 123. Their whole charm is … in no degree of the upholstery kind.
1866. Lond. Rev., 15 Sept., 287/2. Those upholstery authors … whose books have the run at Mudie’s.
Hence Upholsterydom. rare–1.
1860. Sala, in Cornh. Mag., I. 572. He went on painting, in spite of all the Morrises in upholsterydom.
