History of Modern Chair Design

Despite the fact that bench-like structures found at many Neolithic dig sites imply that chairs actually pre-date written history, they have only been in use for the masses for the past two hundred years.

Chairs Seen As Powerful

Prior to this, chairs were a symbol of authority, power and riches. Ancient Chinese Emperors and Egyptian Pharaohs are depicted as sitting on raised, ornate thrones, yet evidence suggests that this was a privilege of the powerful, not a right of the people. The general population would sit or kneel on the floor, although there have been some historical discoveries that suggest low stools were common in some areas.

However, throughout history the elevation provided by a chair has been used to denote an elevated position in society. In the court of Louis XIV, while the king reclined in an ornate throne, all court members had to stand in his presence. It is thought that the honour of being allowed to perch on a low stool in the presence of the king was a coveted honour at the time. Even modern language use backs this up – in Britain, we have ‘the chair’ in the House of Commons, and to ‘chair’ a meeting or committee means to lead it, associating the use of a chair with a position of power or influence.

Chairs As Furniture

Not until the Renaissance did the chair become a common item of furniture. As the fashion leaders of the time began to revive historical modes of dress and décor, the chair suddenly became an item that anyone could own, so long as they could afford one. The love of soft furnishings and fabrics at the time led to the first upholstered chair seats, and ornate backs became a social status symbol.
Around 1830, the Industrial Revolution led to the mass machine production of furniture, and it was around this time that the majority of people had enough chairs in their home for everyone to be able to take a seat. Previously, many households had chairs for the adults, but children had to make do with low stools, which again reinforces the ‘chair as position of authority’ image we learned from history.

Fashion

By the start of the twentieth century, chairs were changing with every twist of the fashion industry, and many famous designers had sprung up, including Chippendale. By the 1960’s, chair design was all the rage, and beanbag, pod and hanging chairs could be found in every home and furniture shop. The introduction of a motor developed the massage chair, and as televisions and radios became part of every household, recliners increased in popularity.

Today, more people than ever before in history spend a large portion of their day sitting at a desk, which is why ergonomic designs are leaping to the forefront. We need more lumbar support from our chairs than previously to avoid long term health issues, so a well designed office chair is a must.

This post was written on behalf of www.chairoffice.co.uk
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