| Since the beginning of existence of humankind, | | | | them today. |
| there has obviously been the need for something | | | | The French have had great influence in the |
| to sit on. Early humans sat on rocks or the | | | | development of chairs as we know them. French |
| ground, sometimes covered with large leaves to | | | | craftsmen and designers were the first ones to |
| keep comfortable and warm. It was until the | | | | produce the forerunners of today's lightweight |
| ancient Greeks that the 'chair' came in to | | | | and comfy chairs. Their designs inspired the |
| existence. The word chair is derived from the | | | | creation of new breeds of chairs. Whereas chairs |
| Latin word cathedra. Chairs these days have | | | | were previously merely used for dining and |
| become an undeniably essential entity. Chairs | | | | working at desks, the new ideas brought forward |
| surround us everywhere in all shapes and sizes. | | | | lounge chairs, chairs of various heights, armchairs, |
| However, traditional chairs were never considered | | | | rocking chairs, sleeping chairs and many more. |
| such a commonplace item. The Ancient Egyptians | | | | By the 18th century when the chairs were still |
| are known for creating the most ornate and | | | | being crafted by hand, more and more curves |
| detailed chairs for their kings and queens. Egyptian | | | | were added to their designs. This required great |
| chairs originally started out as furniture that was | | | | revenue and resources since any curved shape |
| common for the rich and the poor alike. Around | | | | was cut out from a solid block of wood: the |
| the time of the second dynasty, chairs produced | | | | curvier the design, the more wood was required. |
| in the royal workshops began to be elegantly inlaid | | | | Ever since the chair had become a common |
| with colored stones and covered with ebony and | | | | commodity, we see that it began changing styles |
| ivory, while others were embedded with shards | | | | every so often in order stay in the same fashion |
| of colored wood laid out in preset patterns. | | | | league as the rest of the world. |
| Eventually, Egyptian chairs developed into quite | | | | While the 19th century saw the revival of chair |
| complex forms that required extreme skill and | | | | designs of the olden days, the 20th century |
| craftsmanship in their design and construction. | | | | brought forward the immense use of technology |
| The Greeks weren't far behind, jumping directly | | | | in chair construction and design. Focus was shifted |
| to building chairs with four solid and artsy legs, | | | | towards producing ergonomic chairs and use of |
| eventually developing into klismos. The klismos | | | | materials other than wood to increase variety and |
| were light and elegant chairs with curved legs and | | | | reduce excessive use of timber. New types of |
| curved back rails to match, with a narrow, curved | | | | chairs came to be seen: metal folding chairs, bean |
| in backrest between them. These klismos were | | | | bags, plastic chairs. New shapes were brought |
| rapidly adapted by the Romans and spread to | | | | forward such as the Butterfly chair. Leather and |
| almost all the areas they conquered. The Romans | | | | polymer chairs came to be seen at every nook |
| had their own brand of chairs as well: there were | | | | and cranny. As technology grew further, it got |
| Sella, the ordinary chairs; the Lectica, a portable | | | | integrated into chairs to form adjustable chairs, |
| couch-like seat used to transport people; the | | | | sofas that can turn into bed at the touch of a |
| Curule Chairs, folding chairs brought to the | | | | button, automatic wheelchairs and numerous |
| Colosseum by the Senators; and last but definitely | | | | other innovations. |
| not the least, the Bisellium, which was the chair | | | | It is an undeniable fact that chairs are an essential |
| occupied by the Emperor during the games at the | | | | part of our lives. No matter what we do, chairs |
| Colosseum. | | | | are a necessity, whether we're studying, working, |
| Chairs had become a common commodity by the | | | | eating, resting or just plain running out of storage |
| mid 17th century greatly due to the Renaissance. | | | | space! Even though every chair may not be as |
| It took another century for carpenters to realize | | | | comfortable as it may seem at first, the chair is |
| that chairs should both look good and be | | | | here, it's here to stay and the search for the |
| comfortable to sit on. This concept spawned a | | | | most comfortable chair is still on its way. |
| generation of chair designers that eventually led | | | | Annie is an expert furniture and interior design |
| to the gradual move towards chairs as we know | | | | writer. |