The first chair

one of the first chairs

I was talking about chairs today (as one often does) and the question of who invented the chair came up. An interesting question I thought, because it’s one of those things that these days is so banal that it’s hard to imagine it ever having been invented.

We could alway sit, but there must have been a time when a single object just for one person to sit on must have seemed incredibly ostentatious. Imagine sitting in a chair in a world where everyone sits on the ground - i’d be embarrassed and join them on the ground I think.

OK so here is where the research starts…

i found these bits:

“It is widely believed that the Egyptians invented the chair. We first discovered them in tombs, and on the frescoes of Pompeii. These early chairs, although beautiful with ornate carvings, were more like small benches. The Greeks later developed a more comfortable version called the klismos, which had sabre legs with curving supports rising from the seat as a continuation of the back legs, and had the first curved seat backs.”

The reputable source is here: http://www.habite.com/newsletter/1999.html

a roman basket case

“As early as 2800 BCE Egyptians were using a high-backed chair, along with many variations of backless stools. Chairs with armrests and inclined backrests were in use in Egypt as early as1800 BCE. A curved-back armchair, with rounded armrests at an appropriate height to the body, and rounded stretchers was common in Egypt by 1500 BCE.”

This source is here: http://www.theatre.ubc.ca/dress_decor/ancient_world_intro.htm

wooden chair from tutankhamen

“Chairs were used by important people, as is reflected by the hieroglyph of a man sitting on a chair, which was the determinative for “dignitary”. In the households of common people it was generally only the master of the household who sat on a chair, if there were chairs at all. Among the better-off they might be painted to look like the ornate inlaid and carved chairs of the rich, but the craftmanship was generally poor.”

read a bit more: http://nefertiti.iwebland.com/timelines/topics/furniture.htm

That’s it for today

None of these are the first ever chair though. If you know please leave a note. I’ll do a little more digging and post again another time!

If you read it and liked it, share it... These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Equator

About this entry

You’re currently reading “The first chair,” an entry on THE CURIOUS FELLOW

Published:
07.24.08 / 4pm
Category:
chairs