The middle age -The history of furniture is so thoroughly a part of the history of the manner and customs of different

people, that one can only understand and appreciate the

several change in style, sometimes gradual and sometimes rapid, by references to certain historian.
Introduction Source of Information
 Paintings, Sculptures, illuminated manuscript
Tables and desks Cupboards
 Byzantine was really famous but great influences • Tables with four legs joined with x-
pervaded in its domain. The old classical aesthetic illustration , Ivories and Mosaic almost exclusively
shaped stretchers are depicted a lot.
 Press(recess or niches with
was fused with eastern influence. provide the evidence of the furniture. shelves) and cupboards were
Furniture becoming more linear and taking in Few pieces have survived, although they are often • Wooden tables were round, square, or commonly in antiquity and various
abstract geometric decoration. damaged or much changed from their original rectangular with framed and panelled forms of them continued in byzantine
Oriental feature like rigid, hieratic figure and appearance because of repairs & specially the loss of cupboard beneath. era with best workmanship.
luxurious but formal appearance were incorporated. the bright colours with which much early furniture Some of them were of
• Small tables had a drawer in frieze.
Painting and gliding of furniture were very popular. was decorated. architectural form with pilasters and
Hanging, curtains & tapestries generally impacted • Dining tables were very low in pediments or decorated with painting
BYZANTINE FURNITURE deference to the classical manner of
from east were prestigious elements of furnishing. and colour.
In Byzantine interior Hosaic was brighter and more The Byzantine furniture trade distinguished between reclining while eating. Dinning tables
were sometimes large, and circular or Beds and couches
colourful than its Roman precursor and was used as • “The joiner,” who made standard items for the • Beds and couches were made in
general consumer. semi-circular.
wall decoration more often than the floor. classical style. The beds were
• “The cabinet maker,” whose more architectural • Sophisticated desks fitted with magnificent structure, surmounted
 BYZANTINE designs expressed the aspiration of a thriving ad adjustable lectern tops for reading by a canopy on columns and
Painting and gilding of furniture were very popular. proud culture. revealed a greater appreciation of enclosed with in curtains. Beds
Furniture’s becoming more linear and taking on • Furniture range comprises Chairs, Thrones, Desks, function. This was typically
could be folding stretchers, simple
geometrical decoration. Tables, Cupboards, Beds &Couches etc. Byzantine and on favourite.
sleeping platforms, frames strung
Several ornamental features like rigid, hieratic CHAIRS AND THRONE with cords - or just a mattress on
figures and luxurious but formal appearances were Chairs remained a symbol of power and as such,
• Chests and boxes
the ground.
incorporated. they were often monumental in both size and status • Lavish examples incorporated
Hanging, curtains & tapestries generally imported more akin to ground thrones than modern chairs . painting, Intarsia, works or Inlays Hagia Sophia
from the east were the prestigious more often than on Thrones were architectural in form and indicate and precious metals.
the floor. massive construction of heavy timber, covered with
Roman state craft, Greek culture and Christian belief • Their more humble cousins were Hagia Sophia is great architectural
ornamental paintings and cushioned seats.
are the three wellhead of Byzantine development. “coffers” with simple, flats hinged lid beauty and an important monument
The Egyptians X framed chairs abounded
elements of furnishing. that also served as beds or benches. both for Byzantine and for ottoman
complete with terminals depicting the head and feet's
In Byzantine interiors Mosaic was brighter and more Empire. Once a church, later a
of animals, although it was made of heavier timbers • A basic wooden box constructed
colourful than its Roman precursor and was used as a mosque, and now a museum at the
than ever before, and sometimes even fashioned from from six timber boards nailed
wall decoration together, or even a hollowed log, it Turkish republic, Hagia Sophia has
metal.
Importance of Byzantine was often the only piece of furniture always been the precious of its time.
Chairs employed simple “Mortice and Tenon”
Art owned by many people. The mystical city Istanbul hosted
joints.
Byzantine slowly developed a wholly non classical many civilizations since centuries, of
Throne were made around the sixth century, this sixth • Chests designed for safe transport of
delight in colourful surface ornamentation as against which Byzantium and ottoman
century, this throne was for the archbishop of goods had curved lid to drain away
classical naturalistic forms, transforming the style into Empires were both the most famous
Revenna, maximum. It was made from elephants tusks rain water & were seldom decorated
the “art of the Middle ages”. ones. The city today carries the
imported from Africa or India. This displays the except perhaps for a leather cover.
Secondly when Turks conquered Constantinople in characteristics of these two different
technique of relief carvings with Ivory inlays. The
1453, Byzantine passed onto them a fen of it’s traits • Those that doubled as home cultures and surely Hagia Sophia is a
carving are of religious symbols and saints which
which became a part of Turkish, and later on part of furnishing had more comfortable flat perfect synthesis where one can
were often gilded and painted. lids & some also had feet, or even
Islamic art. observe both ottoman and Byzantium
legs. effects under one great dome.

Table Chests & Beds

Chairs &throne Cupboards
ROMANSEQUE ROMANESQUE FURNITURE GOTHIC STYLE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOTHIC
The Roman basilica, the building in which judicial, • Arcading dominated all the form of • Gothic style began in france in STYLE
commercial, and governmental activities took place, furniture. 1150 and Islamic civilization • Gothic is symbolised by tall , slim,
became the primary architectural model for • Gilding and painting in bright was its main inspiration. pointed arches which comes from the
christian churches in the early Middle Ages. colours were practiced. Gothic is symbolized by tall Islamic east.
Medieval Italian churches in the early Middle Ages. • Most of the furniture was either slim ointed arches which came • Tracery was another important features
Medieval Italian churches generally imitated its removable or built in. from Islamic east. Tracery was which seeped from architecture to
basic design.  Chairs another feature which sepped furniture.
Such building usually contained a center nave with  Tables from architecture to furniture. This following of architecture in the field of
colonnades along an aisle at each side and an apse  Cupboards furniture gave it universal character.
at one end: on this raised platform sat the bishop  Beds various kinds of wood were • Specific design characteristics that appear
and priests. CHAIRS used depending upon in the furniture are gargoyles, flying,
Characteristics • chairs preserved their status as the availability. Oak was a chief buttresses, and quatrefoil, & trefoil shapes.
1) Round Arches symbol of authority. timber where used such as • Believed to have originated in churches in
2) Scrolling plants • The chair members were mostly of lime, apple and pear. Many the 13th century, Gothic furniture contains
3) The human form turned wood. types of stools were used . X – intricate carvings, decorative paintings,
4) Imaginary creatures • One of the favourite combinations shaped stool of antique origin and elaborate sculptures.
Romanesque Architecture was that of turned members made was common. More common • Furniture pieces are mostly massive &
• Romanesque is inspired by Roman architecture. to simulated stone columns, with was the three legs stools with sturdy with rich , dark colors.
• Similarities between Roman and Romanesque semicircular arches to form arcaded very short legs. In the 15th CHAIRS
include round arches, stone materials, and the sides and back of ceremonial century a new type of stool Thrones were seemed to be more common
basilica – style plan (used for secular purposes chairs. called slab endeds stools than simple chair. They did not more because
by the Romans). TABLES emerged. It had a flat top of they were heavy among the simple chair the
• Influences that led to the Romanesque style • Tables of various shapes seems to plank supported at both ends most common was the tub chair.
are far more complex – Romanesque be in use. by two planks. The Gothic style
TABLES & DESKS
architecture also shows influences from visi • The majority of tables were was based on the replacement
Gothic tables were of two types fixed and
gothic. Carolingian, Byzantine and Islamic movable, supported on trestles. of the rounded Romanesques
movable. The movable table were usually
architecture. • Some had semicircular tops. arch with the innovative
board tressless most writing desk writing
pointed arch.
Characterstics of Romanesques Cubboards desk were boxes with sloping top to allow
• Cupboards &presses were either MEDIEVAL INTERIORS convenient writing.
• Harmonious proportions. made as plain shelver or in form of Much of the Gothic furniture has
BEDS
• Stone barrel vault or groin vault. planks without frame work or perished, we get to know about it
There are three kinds of canopies –
• Thick and heavy walls. panelling. mostly from the manuscript and
1. Colour- full canopy
• Small windows. • The brilliant polychrome paintings.
2. Demi –colour-half canopies
• Round arches supporting the roof. decoration was employed to hide • Contrary to the common
3. Sparver- conical canopies.
• Round “blind arches” used extensively for the crude carpentry. pereception of Gothic style as
Many types of beds existed during the Gothic
decoration inside and out (especially exteriors). stuffy and dark, interiors and
BEDS period. Some had simple box like
• Nave with side aisles (though some modest furniture of the period were
• Beds had two forms one with construction other were fixed trpes which
churches are aisleless). remarkably light & colourful.
turned members elaborately had drapped testers hung from the ceiling.
• An apse (semicircular niche, usually in the east • In addition, many items of
frame and another was based On CUPBOARDS
end). furniture were painted in bold
chest construction and both had • In the middle ages people hoarded plates
• Multiple tower, usually at the west end and hues, including primary
curtains suspended from the rod as some hoard gold.
over the transept crossing. colours and gold tones.
around the bed. • As these were the pride of the household,
• Sculptured decoration on portals, capitals and • Chests in particular were often
painted.. furniture makers provided an items of
other surfaces (except in cistercian display for them.
monasteries). • Although relatively a few Ex-
survive today, it is still poss. • The cupboards, enclosed presses came
• Painted decoration throughout the interior into existence in the 12th century for use
(little of which survives today Gothic
style in churches.

Cupboards Beds
INTRODUCTION MANNERISM FURNITURE CHAIRS INTERIORS
Renaissance architecture, style of Renaissance is defined as Renaissance furniture was first •During the 16th century, the •Heavy dark paneling was in
architecture, reflecting the rebirth of ancient Greek and produced in Italy during the 15th numbers of chairs increased. use of the lower part of the
rebirth of Classical culture, that roman values in the art that century. Trade brought wealth to Italy, Besides the carved, wall ( Dado ).
originated in Florence in the began in Italy in the 14th and the growing bourgeoisie was able to rectangular, high back chairs, •Ceiling became more
early 15th century and spread century and gradually afford better and bigger housing. Also, there were the X- shaped decorative.
throughout Europe, replacing replaced the gothic style in they significantly increased the demand curule or savonarola chairs. •Flab orated plaster friezes
the medieval Gothic style. There the most of Europe during for high-quality furniture. This type was a smaller and appeared above the wooden
was a revival of ancient Roman the following 250 years. The Italian style of furniture also spread more comfortable chair. It was paneling and ceiling.
forms, including the column and Renaissance designers were to other parts of Europe. carved , sometimes gilded, and •Walls were often decorated
round arch, the tunnel vault, and inspired by the sculpture and CHEST could have a wooden seat with with panels painted to initiate
the dome. The basic design architectural remains of the The marriage chest, or cassone, was a a cushion placed on it . costly tapestries.
element was the order. amount world and their characteristic type of furniture during Towards the end of the century •Renaissance to
Knowledge of Classical furniture reflect this. the Renaissance. This chest was a , chairs were occasionally contemporary art of interior
architecture came from the ruins The dwelling of nobility wooden box decorated on the top and upholstered in silk, leather, or design in the interest of its
of ancient buildings and the became well known for their sides, and it was used both to store items tapestry. values and ideals, attempt to
writings of Vitruvius. As in the opulent interiors which and room decoration. •Savonarola chairs: Early create a harmonious, solemn
Classical period, proportion was include well crafted furniture The cassapanca derived from a large Italian X shaped and majestic interiors.
the most important factor of and magnificent paintings. cassoni by raising it’s bark and sides to commemorating a monk. Seat •Renaissance is characterized
beauty; Renaissance architects Renaissance furniture is form a sofa as settee . Loose cushion was often made of interlocked by rich décor furniture
found a harmony between characterized by horizontal were used for comfort. Late middle ages strips of wood and the back carving, inlays, gilding,
human proportions and form and classical balance. was provided wit high paneled back, it was usually carved or • painting.
buildings. This concern for Early renaissance was a style evolved into a cassapanca’ “chest- decorated with inlay work. •During the renaissance
proportion resulted in clear, of classical purity and bench”, which was the forerunner of the • Squabells : light wooden interiors used contrasting
easily comprehended space and simplicity. sofa. chair with straight narrow light and shadows, paneling
mass, which distinguishes the Carved, gilded, and painted The credenza side board with doors back heavily carved for dining if furniture and surfaces ,
Renaissance style from the more with scenes from classical and drawers for the preparation and and other purposes. perspective painted in fresco,
complex Gothic. Filippo mythology. serving the food , but it evolved in the •New solid backed side chairs and elaborate turning of
Brunelleschi is considered the Oak was very common as it late middle ages into a display for were developed these had structural support, as well as
first Renaissance was replaced by walnut. expensive plates and other vessels and carved backs and instead of ornamentation.
architect. Florence the early Pilasters are shallow column was thus often draped in luxurious legs used solid carved panels
Renaissance style spread attached to a furniture. fabrics. as support.
through Italy. Donato Cornice is an architectural TABLES
Bramante’s move term used in description of Tables of Italian Renaissance was
to Rome ushered in the High furniture for the molding of massive and had support in the form of
Renaissance (c. 1500– book-cases. lions, griffins or human figure.
20). Mannerism, the style of the Tops of the tables were pietra- Dura .
Late Renaissance (1520–1600), Supported by heavily carved trestles.
was characterized by Small tables had hexagonal or octagonal
sophistication, complexity, and tops which were supported by carved
novelty rather than the harmony, turning legs.
clarity, and repose of the High The reflectory tables was a solid oblong
Renaissance. top supported by trestles,
columns ,balusters pr slab end with
stretches between for support.