History Furniture

1 history

1.1 prehistoric furniture
1.2 ancient egypt
1.3 ancient greece
1.4 ancient rome
1.5 medieval europe
1.6 18th century
1.7 19th century
1.8 north american
1.9 modernism
1.10 ecodesign
1.11 contemporary
1.12 asian history

history
prehistoric furniture

the seated woman of Çatalhöyük statue evidence furniture existed in neolithic.

the practice of using natural objects rudimentary pieces of furniture dates beginning of human civilisation. humans have used tree stumps seats, rocks rudimentary tables, , mossy areas sleeping. during late palaeolithic or neolithic period, around 30,000 years ago, people began constructing , carving own furniture, using wood, stone, , animal bones. earliest evidence existence of constructed furniture venus figurine found @ gagarino site in russia, depicts goddess in sitting position, on throne. similar statue of mother goddess found in catal huyuk in turkey, dating between 6000 , 5500 bc. inclusion of such seat in figurines implies these common artefacts of age.

skara brae house home furnishings, dresser shelves

a range of unique stone furniture has been excavated in skara brae, neolithic village in orkney, scotland. site dates 3100–2500 bc , due shortage of wood in orkney, people of skara brae forced build stone, readily available material worked , turned items use within household. each house shows high degree of sophistication , equipped extensive assortment of stone furniture, ranging cupboards, dressers , beds shelves, stone seats, , limpet tanks. stone dresser regarded important symbolically faces entrance in each house , therefore first item seen when entering, perhaps displaying symbolic objects, including decorative artwork such several neolithic carved stone balls found @ site.

ancient furniture has been excavated 8th-century bc phrygian tumulus, midas mound, in gordion, turkey. pieces found here include tables , inlaid serving stands. there surviving works 9th-8th-century bc assyrian palace of nimrud. earliest surviving carpet, pazyryk carpet discovered in frozen tomb in siberia , has been dated between 6th , 3rd century bc.

ancient egypt

civilisation in ancient egypt began clearance , irrigation of land along banks of river nile, began in 6000 bc. time, society in nile valley engaged in organized agriculture , construction of large buildings. @ period, egyptians in southwestern corner of egypt herding cattle , constructing large buildings. mortar in use around 4000 bc. inhabitants of nile valley , delta self-sufficient , raising barley , emmer (an variety of wheat) , stored in pits lined reed mats. raised cattle, goats , pigs , wove linens , baskets. evidence of furniture predynastic period scarce, samples first dynasty tombs indicate advanced use of furnishings in houses of age.

during dynastic period, began in around 3200 bc, egyptian art developed significantly, , included furniture design. egyptian furniture constructed using wood, other materials used, such leather, , pieces adorned gold, silver, ivory , ebony, decoration. wood found in egypt not suitable furniture construction, had imported country other places, particularly phoenicia. scarcity of wood necessitated innovation in construction techniques. use of scarf joints join 2 shorter pieces , form longer beam 1 example of this, construction of veneers in low quality cheap wood used main building material, thin layer of expensive wood on surface.

the earliest used seating furniture in dynastic period stool, used throughout egyptian society, royal family down ordinary citizens. various different designs used, including stools 4 vertical legs, , others crossed splayed legs; had rectangular seats, however. examples include workman s stool, simple 3 legged structure concave seat, designed comfort during labour, , more ornate folding stool, crossed folding legs, decorated carved duck heads , ivory, , had hinges made of bronze. full chairs rarer in egypt, being limited wealthy , high ranking people, , seen status symbol; did not reach ordinary households until eighteenth dynasty. examples formed adding straight stool, while later chairs had inclined back. other furniture types in ancient egypt include tables, heavily represented in art, nonexistent preserved items - perhaps because placed outside tombs rather within, beds , storage chests.

ancient greece

historical knowledge of greek furniture derived various sources, including literature, terracotta, sculptures, statuettes, , painted vases. pieces survive day, constructed metals, including bronze, or marble. wood important material in greek furniture, both domestic , imported. common technique construct main sections of furniture cheap solid wood, apply veneer using expensive wood, such maple or ebony. greek furniture construction made use of dowels , tenons joining wooden parts of piece together. wood shaped carving, steam treatment, , lathe, , furniture known have been decorated ivory, tortoise shell, glass, gold or other precious materials.

block iv east frieze of parthenon, images of seated gods, ca. 447–433 bce.

the modern word “throne” derived ancient greek thronos (greek singular: θρόνος), seat designated deities or individuals of high status or honor. colossal chryselephantine statue of zeus @ olympia, constructed phidias , lost in antiquity, featured god zeus seated on elaborate throne, decorated gold, precious stones, ebony , ivory, according pausanias. other greek seats included klismos, elegant greek chair curved backrest , legs form copied romans , part of vocabulary of furniture design, backless stool (diphros), existed in greek homes, , folding stool. kline, used late seventh century bc, multipurpose piece used bed, sofa , reclining during meals. rectangular , supported on 4 legs, 2 of longer other, providing support armrest or headboard. mattresses, rugs , blankets may have been used, there no evidence sheets.

in general, greek tables low , appear in depictions alongside klinai. common type of greek table had rectangular top supported on 3 legs, although numerous configurations exist, including trapezoid , circular. tables in ancient greece used dining purposes – in depictions of banquets, appears though each participant have utilized single table, rather collective use of larger piece. tables figured prominently in religious contexts, indicated in vase paintings, example wine vessel associated dionysus, dating around 450 bc , housed @ art institute of chicago. chests used storage of clothes , personal items, , rectangular hinged lids. chests depicted in terracotta show elaborate patterns , design, including greek fret.

ancient rome

roman furniture based heavily on greek furniture, in style , construction. in last few centuries rome gradually superseded greece foremost culture of europe, leading greece becoming province of rome in 146 bc. rome took on production , distribution of greek furniture, , boundary between 2 blurred. romans did have limited innovation outside of greek influence, , styles distinctly own.

roman furniture constructed principally using wood, metal , stone, marble , limestone used outside furniture. little wooden furniture survives intact, there evidence variety of woods used, including maple, citron, beech, oak, , holly. imported wood such satinwood used decoration. commonly used metal bronze, of numerous examples have survived, example headrests couches , metal stools. similar greeks, romans used tenons, dowels, nails, , glue join wooden pieces together, , practised veneering.

the 1738 , 1748 excavations of herculaneum , pompeii revealed roman furniture, preserved in ashes of ad 79 eruption of vesuvius, eighteenth century.

medieval europe

florentine cassone 15th century

in contrast ancient civilisations of egypt, greece, , rome, have comparatively little evidence of furniture 5th 15th century. few extant pieces survive, , evidence in literature scarce. style of furniture prevalent in late antiquity persisted throughout middle ages. example, throne similar of zeus depicted in sixth century diptych, while bayeux tapestry shows edward confessor , harold seated on seats similar roman sella curulis.

the furniture of middle ages heavy, oak, , ornamented carved designs. along other arts, italian renaissance of fourteenth , fifteenth century marked rebirth in design, inspired greco-roman tradition. similar explosion of design, , renaissance of culture in general, occurred in northern europe, starting in fifteenth century. seventeenth century, in both southern , northern europe, characterized opulent, gilded baroque designs incorporated profusion of vegetal , scrolling ornament. starting in eighteenth century, furniture designs began develop more rapidly. although there styles belonged 1 nation, such palladianism in great britain or louis quinze in french furniture, others, such rococo , neoclassicism perpetuated throughout western europe.

18th century

during eighteenth century fashion set in england french art. in beginning of century boulle

an encoignure royal cabinetmaker jean-pierre latz circa 1750 richly ornamented marquetry , ormolu.

cabinets @ peak of popularity , louis xiv reigning in france. in era of furniture had metal , enamelled decorations in , of furniture covered in inlays of marbles lapis lazuli, , porphyry , other stones. mid-century baroque style displaced graceful curves, shining ormolu, , intricate marquetry of rococo style, in turn gave way around 1770 more severe lines of neoclassicism, modeled after architecture of ancient greece , rome.

19th century

the furniture maker ludwig deutsch

the nineteenth century defined concurrent revival styles, including gothic, neoclassicism, rococo, , easthaven movement. design reforms of late century introduced aesthetic movement , arts , crafts movement. art nouveau influenced both of these movements.

early north american

this design in many ways rooted in necessity , emphasizes both form , materials. american chairs , tables constructed turned spindles , chair backs constructed steaming bend wood. wood choices tend deciduous hardwoods particular emphasis on wood of edible or fruit bearing trees such cherry or walnut.

modernism

red , blue chair (1917), designed gerrit rietveld

the first three-quarters of twentieth century seen march towards modernism. art deco, de stijl, bauhaus, wiener werkstätte, , vienna secession designers worked degree within modernist idiom. born bauhaus , art deco/streamline styles came post wwii mid-century modern style using materials developed during war including laminated plywood, plastics , fiberglass. prime examples include furniture designed george nelson associates, charles , ray eames, paul mccobb, florence knoll, harry bertoia, eero saarinen, harvey probber, vladamir kagan , danish modern designers including finn juhl , arne jacobsen. postmodern design, intersecting pop art movement, gained steam in 1960s , 70s, promoted in 80s groups such italy-based memphis movement. transitional furniture intended fill place between traditional , modern tastes.

stainless steel table fsc teca wood - brazil ecodesign


ecodesign

great efforts individuals, governments, , companies has led manufacturing of products higher sustainability known ecodesign. new line of furniture based on environmentally friendly design. use , popularity increasing each year.

contemporary

one unique outgrowth of post-modern furniture design live edge, heralding return natural shapes , textures within home.

asian history

sendai-dansu kimono, zelkova wood, note elaborate ironwork, handles on side transportation, , lockable compartment

asian furniture has quite distinct history. traditions out of india, china, pakistan, indonesia (bali , java) , japan of best known, places such korea, mongolia, , countries of south east asia have unique facets of own.

the use of uncarved wood , bamboo , use of heavy lacquers known chinese styles. worth noting chinese furniture varies dramatically 1 dynasty next.

traditional japanese furniture known minimalist style, extensive use of wood, high-quality craftsmanship , reliance on wood grain instead of painting or thick lacquer. japanese chests known tansu, known elaborate decorative iron work, , of sought-after of japanese antiques. antiques available date tokugawa era , meiji era.