Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as sitting, sleeping, and even dining. It can also be used to hold objects for work or to store things properly. Furniture can be a product of design and is sometimes considered a form of decorative art as well. How did our ancestors start using materials such as wood and metal and one day decide to bring them indoors and use them? Here we discuss a brief history of furniture.
The earliest evidence of furniture was in the prehistoric ages where people learned to farm and started living in permanent settlements. Around 2000 BC, the stone age farmers lived in huts with roofs and inside, stone furniture such as cupboards and beds can be found.
Egyptians also showed early evidence of building and using furniture. They lived in large, comfortable houses with many rooms where walls were painted and floors had colored tiles. Inside their homes, they also had wooden furniture such as beds, chairs, tables and chests for storage.
In Ancient Greece, furniture was also basic. The Greeks stored things in wooden chests or hung them from wooden pegs on the walls. A rich home would also have a dresser to display expensive cups.
In Rome, wealthy families had mosaics and panes of glass in windows. Wealthy Romans also had wall paintings called murals in their houses and they owned very comfortable furniture which was mostly upholstered and finely carved.
In the medieval times, furniture was also basic. People sat on stools or benches because chairs were really not common. Homes of wealthy families were decorated with wool tapestries or painted linen which were also also used to help keep out drafts.
In the 16th century, living became more comfortable because of furniture. In a wealthy home, furniture was usually made of oak and was big in size. Chairs became more common but they were still very expensive.
In the late 17th up to the 18th century, furniture for the wealthy became more comfortable and much more finely decorated as compared to the previous period. New types of furniture emerged such as chests of drawers, grandfather clocks, armchairs, and bookcases.
In the 19th century, furniture was finally mass-produced as we know it today. Hence, furniture at that time started becoming more affordable to the middle class and the poor. Everyone had the chance to sleep on a bed and dine on a table with their families.
Today, furniture and art are both inseparable. Furniture buyers prefer a specific theme that will go well with their homes and living spaces. Buyers are now more New styles have also emerged and the available variety is as diverse as ever.
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