On a recent trip to Toronto (you’ll know if you follow my socials), we went to the ROM, the Royal Ontario Museum. They had an exhibit that was about European Style Through the Ages that I found really interesting. I was amazed at all the different furniture pieces, and it was interesting to see the evolution of how our practical pieces have changed, depending on status, usage and where people were in history. I took a few pix to show some of how a specific piece has changed…The chair.
If you think about the first chair, or thing to sit on, it was probably a rock or log, to elevate a person from the ground. I didn’t go back quite that far, so here goes the journey. There is evidence that chairs were in existence since at least the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt (c. 3100 BC).
This chair (pictured below) is a Savonarola Chair. It was first seen during the Italian Renaissance in the late 1400’s and early 1500’s and was an evolution of furniture from the Roman period. It was designed to fold, so was more portable than many “throne-style” chairs. It was favoured by Italian dignitaries. The X-shaped supports made it sturdy and to this day it is a style that is copied by many contemporary designers.
This next armchair is more simple. The wooden frame was carved and joined in birch; the velvet upholstery would have been some sort of petit point which was more common at the time (France late 1500’s), and this style can be seen in many historic depictions of people during that time. I was most amazed that the fringe that you see was made of metal. This one shocked me. Who knew?
This black chair is made of ebony. It would have been carved and turned, then the woven caning added afterwards. This would have been made in India or Sri Lanka with a padded cushion being added for comfort. This style was copied in Europe as travel between countries became more accessible. (c. 1650-1700)
These additional chair styles just show how something as simple as a piece of furniture to sit on can have style as well as function.
What is the style of your favourite chair?
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