Chairs history: A Brief History of Sitting Fashionably (Infographic)

The Furniture Market have recently released an infographic based around the history of chairs and how the design has come to fruition throughout the centuries.

This inspiring infographic is your small guide to perching and parking in style through the ages. It informs you about the comfort and style levels of different seating furniture.

The Earliest Chairs in history (Before 3000 BC)

The first chairs were rudimentary affairs. Benches, stools and chests were the most common seating arrangements. Design wasn’t a key consideration. Each take on the chair was influenced by the time and environment. Without chairs, the floor or bedding was used.

Egyptian Chairs (From 3100 BC Onwards)

Not really for the Hoi Polloi. Not yet for the masses, the best seats in the house were strictly reserved for Royalty and high ranking priests.

Greek and Roman Chairs (Earliest record 700 BC)

Take a breather from all that empire building. Both Greek and Roman chairs were typically made of wood or ivory with elegant curves. This Roman ‘curule’ chair (Latin for chair) was traditionally veneered with ivory, with curved legs forming a wide X. It had no back, and low arms.

Gothic Chairs (12th to the 14th century)

A bit scary but bags of character. Under the Gothic period, chairs were typically made with oak, walnut, rosewood and heavy woods. The elegant stylised forms were designed to echo church architecture.

English Chairs (18th & 19th Centuries)

Delicately framed English refinement. These chairs were heavily influenced by Thomas Chippendale. They incorporated dark woods from gothic chairs. Combined with elaborate patterns influenced by the renaissance styles.

20th Century Chairs

Out with the old, in with the new. Materials and aesthetic changes took hold as Art Deco styles became popular. ‘Fussy’ ornate design went out as Geometric designs and metallic colours were experimented with.

Modern Chairs

Ultra modernist chic and minimalist forms. Earthly materials take a back seat in favour of man made resources such as chrome and steel. The Barcelona chair, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe & Lilly Reich, personifies this ultra modern look.

Don’t forget to check out our interesting infographic about Amish furniture.