The Ever-Evolving Chair
Historically, the formal chair as we recognize it consisted of four legs, seat and may have included arms. Chairs often designated status among various cultures. The more ornate the design, the more important the stature of the person for whom it was designed would be. Historically, a king or queen would be provided with a highly decorative chair, often with cushioned seats and elongated “armrests” for ultimate comfort. A King’s chair might include a royal Coat of Arms. Whereas, in more primitive cultures, the chair might be adorned with relics of successful battles, exotic feathers or animal hides.

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Coffee tables first appeared in Europe particularly in Britain during the late Victorian time period. There are no known examples of coffee tables created before the mid to late 19th century. Before the 18th century, Europeans used end tables, occasional tables, and tea tables because they used high backed chairs called settles. By 1780, low back sofas started to replace settles and this led to sofa tables being developed to be placed behind sofas. Coffee tables were originally designed as low tables and the idea may have come from the Ottoman Empire because low tables were used in tea gardens.

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Since even before recorded history, people have gone to great effort to find or engineer a comfortable place to sleep. Evidence of rudimentary beds have been found from as long as 10,000 years ago. The Neolithic settlement at Skara Brae, off the coast of Scotland, has box beds that date to about 3,200 BC.

At about the same time in history, the ancient Egyptians developed beds that stood off the ground. These beds were elaborately decorated works of art as well as functional furniture. The odd, U-shaped headrest favored by the Pharaohs, though, appears awkward and uncomfortable to a modern audience. And while the Pharaohs enjoyed these comfortable pallets, common folk had to rely on piles of palm fronds on the floor.

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Glass has been prized for centuries for it’s beauty and it’s unique ability to take any shape bestowed upon it by a talented artisan. However, the fragile nature of glass means that, historically, it has been unsuitable for furniture. Glass is almost impossible to repair when smashed, and it is unable to support a great deal of weight. This did not prevent glass from being one of the preferred materials for vases and other decorative wares, especially once clear glass began to eclipse green glass.

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Mirrors are synonymous with elegance and class when used in accessorizing one’s home. They make spaces appear larger and can completely change the aura of a room. With so many designs, including beveled mirrors with no frames or those with the most exquisite framework, selecting a mirror is as easy as determining the statement one wishes his room to make.

Gone are the days when mirrors served practical purposes; today, we can find mirrors in lavish palaces, large office complexes and of course, in nearly every home across the country. They add light when strategically placed near a window. Mirrors now serve as tabletops to add a certain flair to dressers, dining tables and even coffee tables; further, many are using mirrors in their outdoor living spaces as a way to admire their lawns and beautiful flower gardens at all angles from their patios or decks.

The history of mirrors can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman days when they were small and handheld. This, of course, evolved into full length mirrors found throughout England and France. As with all things, the costs associated with making mirrors dropped and from there, they became common in homes across the globe.

Today’s mirrors come in a wide array of shapes and designs. From the symmetrical and classic rectangular or square shapes to the more elegant round or oval shapes, along with the myriad of frame designs, the perfect mirror for every room is easily located.

Furniture has been used since the beginning of time. The oldest surviving pieces of furniture are from Egypt. Some were adorned in gold and others very were simple. Many of these pieces resemble the furniture of today in looks and construction. Roman and Greek furniture were found only in paintings and pottery. They too resemble Egyptian pieces with some differences in functionality. Stools called Kilsmos now had backs for comfort. Jewels and ornaments were also embedded in the borders of stools belonging to the wealthy. Roman furniture used bronze, marble and precious metals. Roman designs were more functional, practical and complex. Furniture was still a symbol of status and considered a work of art.

Italian Renaissance furniture combined heavy carving, stucco and painting in their decorations. Chair seats were upholstered with leather and tapestry and beds had ropes to support mattresses. The use of panels was introduced. French Renaissance pieces had less carving, used columnar legs and were more delicate. English furniture had even less carving with oak the material of choice.

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When buying furniture for your new home or simply upgrading to a newer nicer style of furniture, there are a few things one should take into consideration.

These days, most everything is made fast using the cheapest materials possible, including furniture. The majority of furniture is even constructed by machines. The result is a variety of furniture that looks good, yet is made from such cheap materials as press wood. After all is said and done, most furniture shoppers end up with products that have a positive appearance but will only last for a very short time. Fortunately, there is an alternative.

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