Kick Your Feet Up: Recliners
Ever wonder how did the chair, much less the modern recliner, developed through time? Why did it take on the shape that it eventually did? Not to be terribly Seinfeld-ian about it, but how did this happen? Well, Georgie boy, I’ve done some research and come up with a brief survey, if you will, of the humble, posterior perching chair. Join me, won’t you?
There is no record of the first chair. The archeological record doesn’t give us a “first chair.” Instead, we have a variety of chairs from a variety of early civilizations. Of course, as with anything tied to human endeavors, the chair was initially a status symbol. Most chairs in antiquity were reserved for the landed gentry and royalty. In fact, in medieval Europe, the Church fathers and royals enjoyed terribly elaborate chairs.
But wait, what about the Greeks and Romans? What about the Egyptians? The respective archeological records show aside from a few thrones, most chairs were nothing more than stools. Don’t forget the Greeks, Romans, and even the Egyptians came from lounging cultures. Food was eaten whilst lying on one’s side on the ground, usually made comfortable by an assortment of pillows.
While the medieval European chairs were quite elaborate, it would not be until the Italian craftsmen of the Renaissance got their hands on the chair that it would become what it is today. The chair was stuffed with down and fabrics and marketed for mass (on a relative scale) consumption. Nothing meant you had made it as a member of the newly emerging middle class like an ornate chair to park your posterior on.
Today, the most popular chair is the much loved and maligned recliner. The recliner dates back to 1780 and the court of Louis XVI. It seems it was created to allow King Louis to literally kick his feet up. After all, a king should never strain to lift his legs. Napoleon, upon becoming Emperor, also kicked back on a recliner. Whether or not it had belonged to Louis is up for debate. Padded recliner chairs appeared in 1887. Their popularity had everything to with their decadent reclining mechanisms, which took all the effort out of putting one’s feet up. It’s good to be the king.
Tags: furniture, home;accessory, recliner chairs, relaxation, Stress Management
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
