The Humble Chair

You’ve probably got quite a few chairs in your home, playing a number of roles: dining chair, TV chair, computer chair, reading chair… a symbol of modern day living and an absolute staple in everyone’s domain, the faithful chair provides and epitomises the comfort we expect in our daily lives.

Although the faithful chair may seem ubiquitous to us today, this has not always been the case. Although taking the weight off our feet has been a commonplace tradition since the dawn of man, the chair itself, with its backrest at a 90 degree angle, was traditionally reserved only for dignitaries. It would keep the occupier sat bolt upright and, it was thought, also give them authority. This ideal can be still seen today, as the chair is still used in some settings to convey that same sense of importance, for example in thrones in palaces.

The very first armchair can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where their belief was such that to design anything which was not natural in form would throw the universe into chaos. The item was greatly revered in this culture, often carved from gilded wood, ebony and ivory, and embellished with many jewels and treasures.

The Greek chairs go as far back as 7 centuries BCE and much like the Egyptians, they decorated them with carvings of mythical creatures and beasts, especially around the legs of the chair. This also symbolised power, along with the materials it was conceived from with Roman chairs typically made of marble. The Curule chair had a cross frame and could easily be attributed to the modern-day folding chair, except for the bejewelled enhancements.

The sedan chair was a popular style in China during the Song Dynasty (from 960-1279), where slaves would carry important figures in this portable throne, and an example of this can also be found in Rome from the Byzantine Empire. Known as a Sedia Gestatoria, it is highly embellished and portrays Hercules’ might, currently found in St Peter’s Basilica. Meanwhile in the Louvre in France can be found the bronze cast Chair of Dagobert, which has a leather seat and is partially gilt.

Style and comfort doesn’t always go hand in hand when it comes to the chair’s history in England. Convenience was of highest importance, as a type of chair which could be taken apart for easy travelling known as a Faldstool became quite popular – up until, that is, the point at which every residence had chairs of its own.

The 18th century certainly fuelled the desire for padded seats but the subsequent centuries have progressed to produce a number of different fibres and memory foams that provide higher levels of relief and relaxation. We now take a greater interest in a chair’s ability to support our frame and invest in orthopaedic and custom-made chairs for the ultimate support. So, from the hard back of marble to the modern day wonders of upholstery, chairs can now be stylish whilst much kinder to our form, but that will never stop our hunt for the perfect perch!

Why not begin the hunt for your perfect chair or sofa?