Egyptian Theme Furniture April 30
It is not uncommon to see people argue over the exact theme portrayed in furniture. With Egyptian theme furniture, this surely is never the case.
Egyptian Theme Furniture
Invoking visions of the time of the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt, replicas of Egyptian theme furniture have continued to find their way into modern decorative schemes. The Egyptians are among the first cultures that have given us insight into their use of furniture because so many pictures have been found in the tombs uncovered. The furniture was made mostly from wood, and the passing years have deteriorated them to dust. However, some pieces have survived to give us a better idea, and to confirm that the drawings represented furniture the way it actually was in the homes of the nobles of Egypt three thousand years ago.
The Egyptians combined their practical and their artistic sides in their furniture design. They had a great deal of respect for nature and the natural world, and this is reflected also. One of the first and most basic items of Egyptian theme furniture was the simple stool. It seems to have been a staple item in every Egyptian home. It was covered with pictures of animals, and its feet were often carved into the shape of animal’s feet or claws. Folding stools were common. They were most likely first used by armies while in the field, but soon found their way into homes.
Chairs are thought to have evolved from the earlier and more basic stools by a slow process of adding ever larger backrests. A chair that once sat in the home of an Egyptian noble three thousand years ago, now sits in the British Museum. It is made of cedar imported, most likely, from Lebanon and has inlaid ivory in the shape of lotus blossoms in the back rest. The legs end in the curved claws of a lion. The woods of Egypt came mostly from trees like the acacia, the fig, date, or willow. These trees yielded wood full of knots, with poor grain and not much strength. Hardwoods were exported from Lebanon, Syria, Nubia, and Ethiopia.
Beds were an interesting item in Egyptian theme furniture. Their design remained unchanged for over two thousands years. They were slanted downward from the head, and the foot rest served the very practical purpose of keeping you from sliding off. Many beds were built with side rails as well. Again, almost all the legs were carved into the shape of animal feet. This ranged from the hooves of bulls or fleet gazelles, to the feline curved claws of a lion. The mattress was made from wooden slats or reeds. Often a woolen cushion would add comfort, and the sheets were made from linen.
Today replicas of Egyptian theme furniture are available. Many of them are intended more for decoration and theme enhancement than for practical use. This fact would have offended the ancient ones whose designs are copied. They believed in the melding of the beautiful and aesthetic with the practical. They would have hardly understood a chair that was intended to be only looked at regardless of how expensive and beautiful it might be.
Stephan Teak is with FurnitureStoresforYou.com - a directory of furniture stores.
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