Furniture Design History

6/1/13
Furniture Design History
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F u r n i t u r e d esi g n h as b een a p ar t of t h e h u m an exp er i en ce si n ce t h e

b eg i n n i n g of h i st or y. E vi d en ce of f u r n i t u r e su r vi ves f r om as f ar b ack as t h e
Neol i t h i c Per i od i n t h e f or m of p ai n t i n g s, wal l M u r al s d i scover ed at Pom p ei i ,
i n scu l p t u r e an d exam p l es h ave al so b een excavat ed i n E g yp t i an Pyr am i d s
an d f ou n d i n t om b s i n G h i or d es (m od er n d ay T u r key). T h ese n ot es wi l l t r ack
t h e m ai n ad van cem en t s, d evel op m en t s, st yl es an d m at er i al s i n f u r n i t u r e
d esi g n h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e i d en t i f yi n g f eat u r es of each p er i od , t h e m at er i al s
u sed an d sh ow i m ag es of som e of t h e m ost si g n i f i can t p i eces of f u r n i t u r e
ever d esi g n ed . T h e f u r n i t u r e d esi g n t i m el i n e b el ow ou t l i n es j u st som e of t h e
d i f f er en t p er i od s of f u r n i t u r e d esi g n an d g i ves you a b asi c over vi ew of t h e
t i m el i n e of f u r n i t u r e d esi g n h i st or y. C h oose f r om t h e m en u b el ow t o l ook at
on e f u r n i t u r e d esi g n p er i od i n m or e d ep t h .
NeolithicFurniture | AncientEgyptianFurniture | AncientGreekFurniture | MedievalFurniture

RenaissanceFurniture | JacobeanFurniture | ColonialFurniture | RococoFurniture | RevivalFurniture
ArtNouveauFurniture | BauhausFurniture | ArtDecoFurniture | ModernFurniture
N eo l i thi c Peri o d Furni ture:
www.onlinedesignteacher.com/furniture_design/furniture_design history.html
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A excavat ed si t e d at i n g f r om 3 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 B C i n S kar a B r ae, O r kn ey u n cover ed

a r an g e of st on e f u r n i t u r e. D u e t o a sh or t ag e of wood i n O r kn ey, t h e p eop l e
of S kar a B r ae wer e f or ced t o b u i l d wi t h st on e, a r ead i l y avai l ab l e m at er i al
t h at cou l d b e t u r n ed i n t o i t em s f or u se wi t h i n t h e h ou seh ol d . E ach h ou se was
eq u i p p ed wi t h an ext en si ve assor t m en t of st on e f u r n i t u r e, r an g i n g f r om
cu p b oar d s, d r esser s an d b ed s t o sh el ves an d st on e seat s. T h e st on e d r esser
was r eg ar d ed as t h e m ost i m p or t an t as i t sym b ol i cal l y f aced t h e en t r an ce i n
each h ou se an d i s t h er ef or e t h e f i r st i t em t h at was seen wh en en t er i n g a
h ou se.
B ack t o T op M en u
A nci ent E g yp ti an Furni ture:
T h e h yp er ar i d cl i m at i c con d i t i on s of E g yp t si n ce t h e t h i r d m i l l en n i u m B C ar e
p er f ect f or t h e p r eser vat i on of or g an i c m at er i al . T h an ks t o t h ese con d i t i on s
A n ci en t E g yp t i an f u r n i t u r e h as b een excavat ed an d var i ou s si t es an d i n cl u d es
3 r d m i l l en n i u m B C b ed s, d i scover ed at T ar kh an , a 2 5 5 0 B C g i l d ed b ed an d
ch ai r s f r om t h e t om b of Q u een H et ep h er es, an d b oxes, b ed s an d ch ai r s f r om
T h eb es. T h er e wer e t wo sever e si d es t o t h e f u r n i t u r e excavat ed , t h e i n t r i cat e
g ol d g i l d ed or n at e f u r n i t u r e f ou n d i n t h e t om b s of t h e Ph ar aoh s an d t h e
si m p l e ch ai r s, t ab l es an d b asket s of t h e or d i n ar y E g yp t i an s.
A nci ent Greek Furni ture:
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A n ci en t G r eek f u r n i t u r e d esi g n can b e d at ed b ack t o t h e 2 n d m i l l en n i u m B C ,

i n cl u d i n g t h e f am ou s kl i sm os ch ai r . T h e f u r n i t u r e d esi g n s ar e p r eser ved n ot
on l y b y t h e exam p l es st i l l i n exi st an ce, b u t b y i m ag es of t h em d ep i ct ed i n
G r eek vases. I n 1 7 3 8 an d 1 7 4 8 excavat i on s of H er cu l an eu m an d Pom p ei i
r eveal ed p er f ect l y p r eser ved R om an f u r n i t u r e. T h e ash es f r om t h e er u p t i on
at M ou n t V esu vi u s p r eser ved t h e f u r n i t u r e f r om 7 9 A .D . r i g h t u p i t s
excavat i on i n t h e ei g h t een t h cen t u r y. C h ar act er i st i c of t h i s ear l y f u r n i t u r e
wer e h i g h l y i n f l u en ced b y t h e f u r n i t u r e of t h e an ci en t E g yp t i an s wi t h a st i f f ,
r ect an g u l ar , an d u n f l at t er i n g sh ap e. I n t h e 4 t h an d 5 t h cen t u r i es, on ce t h e
G r eeks d evel op ed t h ei r own st yl e, f u r n i t u r e b ecam e l ess sq u ar e an d r i g i d an d
m or e cu r ved an d f l owi n g .
Med i eval Furni ture:
T h e m ed i eval p er i od was a st ar k an d som ewh at cr u d e t i m e, an d t h at i s

r ef l ect ed i n t h e f u r n i t u r e st yl es of t h e er a. T h e f u r n i t u r e of t h e m ed i eval
p er i od i s ver y d i st i n ct i ve i n st yl e. I t s m ost n ot ab l e ch ar act er i st i cs ar e or n at e
wood car vi n g s on t h e b or d er of ch ai r s an d can op y b ed s, g ar i sh st r u ct u r al
l ayou t s an d col ou r s t h at ar e b asi cal l y g r ey, b ei g e or b l ack. F or m s wer e
m ai n l y sq u ar e or r ect an g u l ar wi t h ver y l i t t l e i n t h e way of cu r ved l i n es or
ci r cu l ar f or m s.
Renai ssance Furni ture:
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A l on g wi t h t h e ot h er ar t s, t h e I t al i an R en ai ssan ce of t h e f ou r t een t h an d
f i f t een t h cen t u r y m ar ked a r eb i r t h i n f u r n i t u r e d esi g n , of t en i n sp i r ed b y t h e
G r ecoR om an t r ad i t i on . S t ar t i n g i n t h e f i f t een t h cen t u r y, a si m i l ar
r en ai ssan ce of cu l t u r e, occu r r ed i n Nor t h er n E u r op e, p ar t i cu l ar l y i n t h e
Net h er l an d s, B el g i u m an d Nor t h er n F r an ce. T h ese d esi g n s wer e d i st i n ct l y
d i f f er en t f r om t h at of M ed i eval t i m es an d wer e ch ar act er i zed b y op u l en t ,
of t en g i l d ed d esi g n s t h at f r eq u en t l y i n cor p or at ed a p r of u si on of f l or al ,
veg et al an d scr ol l i n g or n am en t at i on . T h e ai m of t h ese p i eces wer e of t en t o
sh owcase t h e ski l l s of t h e cr af t sm en wh o m ad e t h em .
J aco b ean furni ture:
A f t er t h e R en ai ssan ce t h er e was a g r ad u al ch an g e t o a l ess or n am en t ed ,

q u i et er st yl e of f u r n i t u r e. I n B r i t ai n t ab l e l eg s, f or exam p l e b ecam e
st r ai g h t er an d n ar r ower t h an wer e t yp i cal of ear l i er p i eces an d i n st ead sp i r al
t u r n ed l eg s b ecam e t yp i cal of t h i s p er i od . I n g en er al f u r n i t u r e p r of i l es
b ecam e l ower an d m or e r ect an g u l ar . L at er Jacob ean f u r n i t u r e, d u r i n g t h e er a
of O l i ver C r om wel l t h e Pr ot ect or , was ver y st er n , sq u ar e, an d f r u g al , a
su i t ab l e st yl e f or a t i m e of r el at i ve p over t y. B u t wi t h t h e r et u r n of t h e
m on ar ch y u n d er C h ar l es I I , C ar ol ean f u r n i t u r e on ce ag ai n b ecam e m or e
or n at e, ch ar act er i zed b y i n t r i cat e car ved st r et ch er s an d col ou r f u l u p h ol st er y
wi t h t assel ed t r i m .
B y t h e en d of t h e p er i od , t h e i n f l u en ce of t h e B r i t i sh W i l l i am an d M ar y st yl e
was b eg i n n i n g t o sh ow. C om p ar ed t o t h e Jacob ean an d C ar ol ean p i eces t h i s
st yl e of f u r n i t u r e was l i g h t er an d m or e el eg an t . I n ver t ed , cu p t u r n ed l eg s,
b u n f eet , an d serp en t i n e st ret ch ers m ad e t h i s a very i d en t i f i ab l e st yl e.
Co l o ni al furni ture:
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A cr oss t h e wat er i n t h e Un i t ed S t at es, d u r i n g t h e ear l y C ol on i al p er i od , m ost

f u r n i t u r e ar r i ved al on g wi t h t h e f i r st i m m i g r an t s. T h ey b r ou g h t f u r n i t u r e
p i eces t yp i cal of t h e Jacob ean an d C ar ol ean p er i od s i n B r i t ai n wi t h t h em , an d
t h en l at er m ad e t h ei r own f u r n i t u r e i n a si m i l ar st yl e. T h ese p i eces wer e
g en er al l y st u r d y an d h eavi l y car ved , m an y wi t h t u r n ed l eg s an d b u n f eet . I n
t h e h ar sh er en vi r on m en t of som e of t h e C ol on i es t h ese p i eces wer e si m p l er
r ep r esen t at i ves of t h ei r p ar en t st yl es, b ef i t t i n g t h e m or e st r ai g h t f or war d an d
u t i l i t ar i an l i f e of t h e set t l er s.
O t h er set t l er s al so b r ou g h t t h ei r i n f l u en ces wi t h t h em t o t h e col on i es, m ost
n ot ab l y t h e D u t ch an d F r en ch i n t h e Nor t h east , an d t h e S p an i sh i n t h e
S ou t h west . A l t h ou g h r ecog n i sab l y d i f f er en t f r om t h e B r i t i sh i n sp i r ed d esi g n s,
t h e D u t ch p i eces ar e essen t i al l y i n t h e sam e t r ad i t i on . H owever t h e d i f f er en t
cl i m at e an d d i f f er en t wood avai l ab l e t o S p an i sh col on i st s l ed t o a d i st i n ct l y
d i f f er en t st yl e kn own as M i ssi on or S ou t h west er n .
T h e ear l i est A m er i can m ad e p i ece of f u r n i t u r e i s a ch est m ad e b y Ni ch ol as
D i sb r owe ar ou n d 1 6 6 0 . Un com p r om i si n g l y r ect an g u l ar , i t s d i st i n ct i vel y
car ved f r am ean d p an el con st r u ct i on , al t h ou g h ver y r em i n i scen t of ear l i er
B r i t i sh A g e of O ak p i eces, i s al r ead y r ecog n i zab l e as a d i st i n ct A m er i can
st yl e. M an y ot h er ear l y C ol on i al er a p i eces, su ch as wai n scot ch ai r s an d
h eavy j oi n t t ab l es, ar e si m i l ar l y i n t h e A g e of O ak t r ad i t i on .
Ro co co Furni ture:
I n t h e ei g h t een t h cen t u r y, f u r n i t u r e d esi g n b eg an t o d evel op r ap i d l y,

al t h ou g h t h er e wer e som e st yl es t h at b el on g ed p r i m ar i l y t o on e n at i on , su ch
as Pal l ad i an i sm i n G r eat B r i t ai n or L ou i s Q u i n ze i n F r en ch f u r n i t u r e, ot h er s,
su ch as t h e R ococo an d Neocl assi ci sm wer e com m on p l ace t h r ou g h ou t W est er n
E u r op e. I n r eal i t y t h e t er m ' 1 8 t h cen t u r y f u r n i t u r e' t h er ef or e r ef er s t o a
wi d e var i et y of st yl es i n cl u d i n g W i l l i am an d M ar y, Q u een A n n e, G eor g i an ,
C h i p p en d al e, H ep p l ewh i t e, S h er at on , A d am , R eg en cy, F ed er al , an d t h e
F r en ch p er i od s of t h e sever al L ou i s, D i r ect oi r e, an d E m p i r e.
W h i l e sep er at e, al l 1 8 t h cen t u r y f u r n i t u r e, wh et h er A m er i can , B r i t i sh , or
F r en ch sh ar ed a si m i l ar st yl e of con st r u ct i on t h at i s d i st i n ct f r om t h e
su b seq u en t m assp r od u ced f u r n i t u r e of t h e 1 9 t h cen t u r y. E i g h t een t h cen t u r y
f u r n i t u r e i s com m on l y t h ou g h t of as r ep r esen t i n g t h e g ol d en ag e of t h e
h i g h l y t r ai n ed m ast er cab i n et m aker , t r ai n ed i n t h e cr af t of f u r n i t u r e d esi g n
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wh i ch m an i f est s i n h i g h l y f i n i sh ed , sop h i st i cat ed d esi g n s.
Revi val Furni ture:
T h e 1 9 t h cen t u r y was m ar ked b y t h e I n d u st r i al R evol u t i on , wh i ch cau sed

p r of ou n d ch an g es i n soci et y. W i t h i n cr easi n g wor ki n g p op u l at i on s i n ci t i es,
t h e r i se of a n ew cl ass of weal t h y of f u r n i t u r e b u yer s, t og et h er wi t h t h e
ar r i val of m assp r od u ct i on an d t h e d em i se of t h e i n d i vi d u al cr af t sm an
d esi g n er , t h e g r ad u al p r og r essi on of f u r n i t u r e st yl es t h at h ad d evel op ed
t h r ou g h t h e p r evi ou s cen t u r i es was r ep l aced b y a r af t of i m i t at i on or r evi val
st yl es. T h ese con cu r r en t r evi val st yl es, i n cl u d i n g G ot h i c r evi val ,
Neocl assi ci sm an d R ococo r evi val b ecam e easy an d i n exp en si ve t o
m an u f act u r e as t ech n ol og y d evel op ed d u r i n g t h e i n d u st r i al r evol u t i on .
W i t h m assp r od u ct i on t ech n ol og y i n p l ace i t was a si m p l e m at t er t o g r af t
h i st or i cal l y cor r ect or n am en t s on t o al l sor t s of f u r n i t u r e, t h er eb y m aki n g
p ossi b l e f or t h e cr eat i on of a con t i n u al st r eam of r evi val st yl es t o m eet t h e
d em an d s of t h e p u b l i c. T h e r esu l t was a cen t u r y of f u r n i t u r e wh ose com m on
d en om i n at or was excessi ve or n am en t at i on i n t h e f or m of ap p l i ed m et al or
wood car vi n g s, i n l ays or st en ci l s.
A rt N o uveau Furni ture:
T h e n am e "A r t Nou veau " i s F r en ch f or ' n ew ar t ' , an d i t em er g ed i n t h e l at e

1 9 t h cen t u r y i n Par i s. T h e st yl e was sai d t o b e i n f l u en ced st r on g l y b y t h e
l i t og r ap h s of C zech ar t i st A l p h on se M u ch a, wh ose f l at i m ag er y wi t h st r on g
cu r ved l i n es was seen as a m ove away f r om t h e acad em i c ar t of t h e t i m e. A r t
Nou veau f u r n i t u r e u sed l i n es an d cu r ves as g r ap h i cal or n am en t at i on an d h ar d
wood s an d i r on wer e com m on l y u sed t o p r ovi d e st r on g yet sl i m su p p or t i n g
st r u ct u r es t o a f u r n i t u r e p i eces.
B auhaus Furni ture:
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B ecau se of t h e g r eat er avai l ab i l i t y of a wi d er ar r ay of m at er i al s t h an ever

b ef or e, an d b ecau se of an ever exp an d i n g awar en ess of h i st or i cal an d cr oss
cu l t u r al aest h et i cs, 2 0 t h cen t u r y f u r n i t u r e i s p er h ap s m or e d i ver se, i n t er m s
of st yl e, t h an al l t h e cen t u r i es t h at p r eced ed i t . T h e f i r st t h r eeq u ar t er s of
t h e t wen t i et h cen t u r y saw st yl es su ch as A r t D eco, D e S t i j l , B au h au s, W i en er
W er kst at t e, an d V i en n a al l wor k t o som e d eg r ee wi t h i n t h e M od er n i st i d i om .
T h e B au h au s sch ool was f ou n d ed b y W al t er G r op i u s i n W ei m ar i n 1 9 1 9 . I n
sp i t e of i t s n am e, an d t h e f act t h at i t s f ou n d er was an ar ch i t ect , t h e
B au h au s was f ou n d ed wi t h t h e i d ea of cr eat i n g a ' t ot al ' wor k of ar t i n wh i ch
al l ar t s, i n cl u d i n g f u r n i t u r e wou l d even t u al l y b e b r ou g h t t og et h er . T h e
f u r n i t u r e d esi g n s t h at em er g ed f r om t h e B au h au s b ecam e som e of t h e m ost
i n f l u en t i al d esi g n s i n m od er n d esi g n .
A rt D eco Furni ture:
T h e A r t D eco m ovem en t b eg an i n Par i s i n t h e 1 9 2 0 s an d i t r ep r esen t ed

el eg an ce, g l am ou r , f u n ct i on al i t y an d m od er n i t y. A r t d eco' s l i n ear sym m et r y
was a d i st i n ct d ep ar t u r e f r om t h e f l owi n g asym m et r i cal or g an i c cu r ves of i t s
p r ed ecessor st yl e ar t n ou veau . A r t d eco exp er i en ced a d ecl i n e i n p op u l ar i t y
d u r i n g t h e l at e 1 9 3 0 s an d ear l y 1 9 4 0 s wh en i t b eg an t o b e d er i d ed as
p r esen t i n g a f al se i m ag e of l u xu r y, even t u al l y t h e st yl e was en d ed b y t h e
au st er i t i es of W or l d W ar I I .
Mo d ern Furni ture:
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B or n f r om t h e B au h au s an d A r t D eco st r eam l i n e st yl es cam e t h e p ost W W I I

M od er n st yl e u si n g m at er i al s d evel op ed d u r i n g t h e war i n cl u d i n g l am i n at ed
p l ywood , p l ast i cs an d f i b er g l ass. I n m od er n f u r n i t u r e t h e d ar k g i l d ed , car ved
wood an d r i ch l y p at t er n ed f ab r i cs g ave way t o t h e g l i t t er i n g si m p l i ci t y an d
g eom et r y of p ol i sh ed m et al . T h e f or m s of m od er n f u r n i t u r e sou g h t n ewn ess,
or i g i n al i t y, t ech n i cal i n n ovat i on , an d u l t i m at el y con veyed t h e p r esen t an d
t h e f u t u r e, r at h er t h an wh at h ad g on e b ef or e i t as r evi val st yl es h ad d on e.
T h i s i n t er est i n n ew an d i n n ovat i ve m at er i al s an d m et h od s p r od u ced a
cer t ai n b l en d i n g of t h e d i sci p l i n es of t ech n ol og y an d ar t . T h e u se of n ew
m at er i al s, su ch as st eel i n i t s m an y f or m s m ou l d ed p l ywood an d p l ast i cs,
wer e f or m at i ve i n t h e cr eat i on of t h ese n ew d esi g n s. T h ey wer e con si d er ed
p i on eer i n g , even sh ocki n g at t h e t i m e esp eci al l y i n con t r ast t o wh at cam e
b ef or e.
ArticleKeywordsorPhrases:
furniture history, design history, art history, history of furniture, bauhaus, wassilly chair,design eras, furniture
timeline, folding chair, famous furniture, furniture designers, development of furniture, Jacobean
Furniture,,Modern Furniture, Neolithic Furniture,Ancient Egyptian Furniture,Ancient Greek Furniture,Medieval
Furniture,Renaissance Furniture, Colonial Furniture,Rococo Furniture,Revival Furniture,Art Nouveau
Furniture,BauhausFurniture,ArtDecoFurniture
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