HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF FURNITURE IN THE CONTEXT OF NARROW, RESTRICTION

AND TRANSFORMATION CONCEPTS˟

Özer ÖZÇELİK1*, Timur KAPROL 2
1Edirne Technical Sciences Vocational School, University of Trakya, Edirne/TURKEY
ozerozcelik@trakya.edu.tr
2Faculty of Architecture, University of Trakya, Edirne/TURKEY
timurkaprol@trakya.edu.tr

*Corresponding author

Abstract
Since human beings set foot on the earth, the motivation to avoid exte1rnal conditions such as weather, sun, water and wild animals has
driven them to create a place. Furniture was made of stone, wood and metals in ancient times to meet human beings’ basic needs including
sitting, sleeping and eating.
Furniture kept developing throughout history as places where they were used kept developing. There was a boom in every field
particularly after breaking points of history such as agricultural and industrial revolutions. Development of furniture was undoubtedly
influenced by the big transformation brought by these breaking points.
While furniture went on its development and transformation simultaneously with other fields, it has entered a particular problem/design
process due to changing spatial needs of human. Fixed furniture has been widely popular up to now, but people now need to use one
furniture for multiple needs as recent furniture is narrow and limited. The furniture must also be transportable from one place to another
as people now wish to use it in different settings. This contributed to the development of light and mobile furniture.
The article deals with several questions such as What are the factors that caused the rise of flexible, functional and changeable
furniture? and How was furniture influenced by these factors throughout history? .
Keywords: Transformable Furniture, Flexible Furniture, Functional Furniture, Narrow/Limited Space

DAR, KISITLILIK VE DÖNÜŞEBİLME KAVRAMLARI BAĞLAMINDA MOBİLYANIN TARİHSEL

GELİŞİMİ˟
Özet
İnsanoğlunun yery“z“ne ayak basmasıyla başlayan dış etkenler olan hava, su, g“neş, yabani hayvanlar gibi unsurlardan korunma
ihtiyacı insanı s“rekli bir mekân yaratmaya yöneltmiştir. İlk çağlarda mobilya oturma, yatma ve yemek yeme gibi insanların en temel
ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak amacıyla taş, ahşap, metal gibi malzemelerden yapılmıştır.
Mobilyanın kullanım alanı olan mekânların gelişmesine paralel olarak mobilya da gelişimini yıllar içerisinde s“rd“rm“şt“r. Özellikle
tarih içerisinde kırılma noktaları olan tarım ve end“stri devrimi sonraları t“m alanlarda sıçrama meydana gelmiştir. Tabi mobilyanın
gelişimi de bu kırılma noktalarının ortaya çıkardığı b“y“k dön“ş“mden etkilenmiştir.
Mobilya bir yandan gelişim ve dön“ş“m“n“ diğer alanlarla paralel s“rd“rse de, diğer yandan asıl kullanıcısı olan insanın zaman
içerisinde s“rekli gelişen ve farklılaşan mekânsal ihtiyaçları çerçevesinde özel bir sorunsal/tasarım s“recine girmektedir. Sabit
mobilyaların kullanım alanı g“n“m“ze kadar oldukça geniş bir durumda seyrederken, mekânların zaman içerisinde oluşan özel
sebeplerden dolayı dar ve kısıtlı olarak “retilmesi mobilyada birçok işlevi tek mobilyadan karşılanması ihtiyacını ortaya çıkarmıştır.
Bunun yanında kullanılan mobilyanın farklı mekânlarda kullanılmak istenmesi “zerine mobilyanın mekândan mekâna taşınma ihtiyacı
da belirmiştir. Bu da hafif ve hareketli mobilyanın gelişimine katkı sağlamıştır.
Makalede esnek, fonksiyonel ve değişebilen mobilyaları ortaya çıkaran sebepler nelerdir? Bu sebeplerden mobilya tarih içerisinde nasıl
etkilenmiştir? Bunlar irdelenecektir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Dön“şebilen Mobilya, Esnek Mobilya, Fonksiyonel Mobilya, Dar/Kısıtlı Mekan

1. Introductıon or housing with multiple functions and facilities. Those places

Ever since his existence on Earth, self-protection has been the
basic motivation of human activities. Initially, natural
formations were his home, then the place improved gradually
as mankind developed. The rise of community and cultures
diversified human needs and gave birth to the concept of place
or houses varied according to the culture and geography.
Furniture has existed and developed since the formation of
houses, continuously influenced by cultural, geographical,
economical etc. factors that shaped the community and
individuals. Thus, furniture is the reflection of social,
economical status and cultural level. Selection, usage, design

˟This study was adapted from ongoing dissertation study "Transformation in Understanding of Flexible Space and Furniture" conducted under the guidance
of Assistant Professor Timur KAPROL at T.U. Science Institute Architecture Department.
 Özer ÖZÇELİK, Timur KAPROL
IFC 2016 International Furniture Congress 13-15 October 2016
and color of furniture give clues about its period. On the other
hand, a new material or style has often been introduced on a
chair before other furniture. The material may be used in
various ways on a furniture- particularly a chair which is not a
very big object- and introduced to the market with a product
that people may easily touch and try. Thus, furniture plays a key
role in development of new materials [1].
2.Historic Development of Furniture in the Concept of
Narrow, Restriction and Transformation Concepts
The word furniture has been derived from the word mobile .
Mobile means active in Latin. The word stem mobi may be
used to refer to anything active and portable. Furniture is the
inter section that adapts a place to humanitarian life conditions.
Therefore, it is the most important feature that completes a
place [2].
Furniture in ancient ages was made of stone, wood and metals
in order to meet basic needs of human beings, including sitting,
sleeping and eating. Furniture developed in time with the rising
of communities and diversifying materials.
Occurrence of furniture is not independent from the place. Both
furniture and place occurred from natural forms and local
materials. These forms are shaped according to contemporary
requirements, resulting in first places and furniture. Geography
and cultural aspects of different regions all over the world have
had significant effects on furniture and place.
Furniture began to take its modern forms in Egyptian,
Mesopotamia, Greek and Roman civilizations. The first
transformable furniture is estimated to date back to Ancient
Egyptian Era. Folding stools in Ancient Egypt are the first
examples of transformable furniture (Picture 1). Again, folding
chairs dating back to 1400s B.C. were discovered in Europe.
These folding chairs are thought to be inspired from the Ancient
Egypt chairs (Picture 2 and Picture 3).
Picture 1. A Folding Chair from Ancient Egypt [3]
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Picture 2. A Folding Chair from Pichelsdorf, Germany
Dating Back to 1400s B.C. [3]
Picture 3. A Folding Chair and Hand Tools from Jutland,
Denmark Dating Back to 1400s B.C. [3]
The oldest and most important function of furniture is the
prestige its owner gains. Thrones were used to emphasize the
excellence of the kings. Good furniture has always been the
symbol of superiority. Countries furnished their palaces with
the best furniture in order to showcase their prestige [4].
Ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun s folding throne and bed
with lion figures, copper hinges, linen laying are examples to
transformable furniture. Folding bed has 179 cm length and 68
cm width, showing that Ancient Egyptian civilization was highly
advanced in the art of furniture (Picture 4 and Picture 5). It is
estimated that the king used these furniture for his journeys as
they were portable, light and practical.
Picture . Tutankhamun s Folding Bed th Dynasty, 1354-
1352 B.C. [5],
Picture 5. Tutankhamun s Folding Throne [6]
Artisans transferred their aesthetics, skills and thinking
concepts to furniture in every age [7]. Changing and
developing ages witnessed diversification of furniture.
Middle Age kings and land owners led a nomadic life
characterized by invasion. Land owners who took their
furniture while moving preferred portable furniture. The idea
was to leave furniture safely in a settlement rather than
carrying all the furniture when they had to abandon the place
for any reason. Therefore, heavy, massive, assembled furniture
was used in addition to portable ones in Western and Mid-
Europe from the early Middle Age to mid-Gothic era [8].
7th century Frankish king Dogobert who built the Saint Denis
Monastery is believed to use the foldaway X framed throne. It
was probably made for the king to use during the wars as a sign
of power and grandeur. Bronze Dagobert Throne has a 104x82
cm size. Armlet and lack of the throne were added later. These
added parts are easily disassembled and do not prevent folding
(Picture 6).
Picture 6. Foldaway Dagobert Throne, 7th century A.C.
[9], [10]
 Özer ÖZÇELİK, Timur KAPROL
IFC 2016 International Furniture Congress 13-15 October 2016

Rulers in Egypt and Europe were not the only ones who wished
to take their magnificent thrones or chairs wherever they went.
12th century Chinese rulers were keen on their comfort not only
in their palaces but also wars and journeys. In picture 7, you can
see a folding armchair used by a Chinese ruler. This chair is
also made from huanghuali but has more elaborate carving and
plain brass reinforcements. It has plain wooden struts and
spandrels beneath the bend of the legs that differ from the
bamboo-shaped metal structs and dragon-carved stretchers of
the other three chairs. The splat has an S rather than a C curve,
and the frame contains three inset panels instead of being made
from a single piece of wood…….Light and easy to move, the
folding armchair was practical for traveling; emperors and
commoners used it for both formal and informal occasions
[11].
Picture 8. 16th Century Folding Chair [6]

As the years went on, kings and rulers were not the only class
that demanded comfort. Functional furniture was developed
for tradesmen and nobles to work and rest at their breaks
during long journeys. Furniture form constantly changed with
the ever growing demands and needs of people.
In picture 9 there is a desk made of walnut designed in 17 th
century for journeys and registered in room inventory of
Chateau Saint-Cloud Duchess Elisabeth Charlotte.1 Table legs
can be folded inside so that it may be carried easily. Upper slab
of the desk may be opened both sides so it is easily used in
restricted areas. Its has a 72.4 cm height, 84.5 cm width, 50.2
cm depth when closed and 148 cm depth when fully opened.
Thus, it gives a 294 % larger area when fully opened.

Picture 7. Armchair [11]

In picture 8, there is a folding chair that is thought to have been

used in Northern Italy and Switzerland in 16th century and
exhibited today in l Oeuvre Notre-Dame museum in Strasbourg,
France. The chair was made of beech tree and has 46 cm width,
43 cm depth and 80 cm height.
Picture 9. Traveling Table (1700-1720) [12]
In picture 10, you can see a table designed and produced by
Jean-François Oeben -1763) for Madame de Pompadour,
the mistress of French King Louis the 15th.2 Upper slab of the
table slides back over a carrier and a hidden section appears

1
HANDLER S.‘‘The Chateau de Saint-Cloud, near Paris, belonged to the
ducs d’Orleans until 1785.In the estate inventoryof the furnishings in the
rooms of Duchesse Elisabeth Charlotte(1652-1722), called Madame, sister-
in-law of Louis XIV, there mentioned a carved writing desk made of walnut
on pields de biche(doe’s feet).’’,''Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical
Furniture'', Berkeley: University of California Press,pp.79, (2001).
2
HANDLER S. ‘‘This table has long been recognized as one of the
masterpieces of Jean-François Oeben, cabinetmaker to Louis XV(1710-
1774). It was made for Oeben's most important client, the king's mistress
Madame de Pompadour(1721-1764).’’ ''Austere Luminosity of Chinese
Classical Furniture'', Berkeley: University of California Press,pp.150,(
2001).

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IFC 2016 International Furniture Congress 13-15 October 2016
below the upper slab. In the hidden section there is a mirror
curved upwards for easy use and a drawer below the mirror.
There are sections on both sides of the mirror, which may be
closed with covers. Oeben was a master of this style and
produced many similar tables for the prominent figures of the
age. After Oeben s death, his apprentice Jean-Henri Riesener
(1734-1806) kept the tradition and produced unique tables.
Picture 9. Mechanical Table [12]
Shakers, a Christian sect who avoided marriage and traditional
family and preferred single commune life had designed by 1776
a self-sufficient life that featured functionality and beauty as
well as simplicity. This life style was also apparent in their
furniture. This Shakers perspective was the basis of today s
philosophy of modern world cited as Form precedes function .
Shakers produced light furniture which could be put away
when necessary.Therefore, they produced furniture that could
be hung and assembled hangers on all the room walls. No nails
furniture with easily attached parts that could be put away
were significant designs in the way that they resembled
contemporary modular furniture understanding.
Picture 10. Hangable Shakers Furniture [13]
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Shakers produced relatively innovative furniture in early 19 th
century and also designed the first samples of today s many
common furniture. In Picture 11 there is a folding bedstead.
This child bedstead can be lifted up towards its case when it is
not used. Thus, it doesn t cover unnecessary space. These
samples offered ideal solutions for restricted areas and also
relatively advanced products for their age.
Picture 11. Shakers Bedstead [14]
By 1850s, new production methods were introduced in many
fields with the diversification of materials and developing
machinery thanks to Industrial Revolution. Michael Thonet, an
Austrian carpenter produced a beech chair that he shaped with
hot steam in . Michael Thonet s chair was produced with a
brand new method and what made it special was that it could
be disassembled.
Picture 12. No:14 Thonet Chair [13]
The chair had 6 parts with different sizes which could be
assembled with 10 screws and no glue. Its easy production style
and disassembled design made it the first serial-production
chair. It could be packaged in parts and easily carried to the
whole world. The chair had a number of models, but 2 million
of no:14 model were produced and sold all over the world
between 1859 and 1930.
By the 20th century, architectural movements had implications
in furniture as well as many other fields. In particular, Bauhaus
School opened in early 1900s Germany introduced
groundbreaking innovations in furniture. Its basic philosophy
is to produce standard, simple, light furniture with functional
design. Established by Walter Gropius, the school trained and
inspired many architects and designers. Simple forms of their
furniture and designs made it fit for serial production. Their
projects mainly dealt with standardization, unit furniture
design, folding chairs, constructional and functional problems.
The first prototypes of most of today s furniture were made in
Bauhaus school in early 1900s. Gustav Hassenpflug who
studied at Bauhaus school worked on modular furniture. In
picture 13, you can see Gustav Hassenpflug modular chairs
 Özer ÖZÇELİK, Timur KAPROL
IFC 2016 International Furniture Congress 13-15 October 2016
from the book Baukastanmöbel that he wrote and published
in 1949. Inspired by Bauhaus school, the furniture could be
folded, saving space in restricted areas. Disassembled and
folding design make it possible to pack and carry the furniture,
making serial production and exportation to various countries
easier.
Picture 13. Gustav Hassenpflug Design Modular Furniture [6]
Many fields including furniture and art have been influenced by
architectural movements in our country as well as the world.
This change after the proclamation of Republic was not limited
to housing. The change was visible in houses as a result of
social, cultural and economical restriction of the nuclear family.
Furniture in houses began to change with social, cultural and
economical features of family members living in houses [15].
Influenced by movements such as Bauhaus, Cubism and
International Style, people began to prefer simple, functional
furniture that cost less instead of expensive and fancy furniture
with time-consuming production. As the public did not have
much knowledge of living in restricted areas after this life-style
change, an article with the name Furniture )ssue was
published in 1948 on an architecture magazine. This article
presented suggestions to public and architects with samples of
restricted areas from western countries. The article the
following lines about center table. )t is true that folding
furniture occupies 75 % less space during transportation.
These table chairs designed by an architect in New York are
easily assembled [16]. In addition to global efforts exemplified
by the center table in the picture, there have been efforts in our
country to find solution for restricted areas, produce
disassembled furniture and encourage people to use them at
their homes.
Picture 14. Disassembled Center Table Furniture )ssue [16]
Again, the magazine included the following lines on furniture at
smaller houses: Architects particularly focused on furniture
for smaller houses. There are efforts to test and create furniture
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parts with multiple functions that do not cover much space.
Folding tables, bookshelves and bedsteads are their examples.
This furniture is beautiful, cheap and easy to transport and
assemble, covers less space [16].
3. Evaluatıon And Conclusıon
Transformable furniture has continuously developed
with fixed furniture throughout history. Contrary to fixed
furniture, transformable furniture involved a specific design
problem, which was dealt with during production stage when a
problem arose. These specific conditions were sometimes the
task of carrying the king s throne and bed and sometimes the
search for comfort of fixed furniture during the long journeys.
Development of transformable furniture was not only the result
of specific conditions of the age. Technology and materials of
the age also contributed to the development. In particular,
processing different materials with the Agricultural Revolution
and then invention of steam engine in Industrial Revolution
boosted furniture sector like others.
Ancient Egypt is estimated to be the first place that
transformable furniture was used. Based on findings and
sources, it is understood that it was then used in several regions
of Europe and the Middle East. Furniture served multiple
functions until the Industrial Revolution and was a practical
solution for rulers and prominent people of the country during
long journeys. However, it was preferred in order to serve
multiple functions in restricted areas that hosted growing
urban population after the Industrial Revolution. This multiple-
function furniture was undoubtedly influenced by architectural
movements of the age. Material, color, reliability, economy,
ergonomics and durability were the features that contributed
to development of furniture and demanded by users.
4. References
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Y“ksek Lisans Tezi,MSÜ,Fen Bilimleri Enstit“s“,İç
Mimarlık Ana Bilim Dalı, .
[2] Kabaağaç, S. ve Alova, E., Latince-T“rkçe Sözl“k. İstanbul:
Sosyal Yayınlar, .
[3] http://www.thehistoryblog.com/, Aralık .
[4] Boyla,O., ''Mobilya Tarihi'',(s:5,6), e-kitap,İstanbul,Ocak
2012.
[5] Erdem,T., Mobilya Tarihine Genel Bakıs Ve Art Deco ,
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Bilimleri Enstit“s“, İç Mimarlık Ana Bilim Dalı, .».
[6] https://tr.pinterest.com/.
[7] Kurtoğlu,A., Mobilya Stillerinin Tarihi Gelişimi İstanbul
Üniversitesi, Orman Fak“ltesi Dergisi, Seri B,Cilt , Sayı
3, ss 70-91,1986.
[8] Vural,M. ''Doğadaki Formların Mobilya Tasarımına
Etkisi'', Y“ksek Lisans Tezi, Mimar Sinan Üniversitesi ,
Fen Bilimleri Enstit“s“, İç Mimarlık Ana Bilim Dalı,
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[9] http://eeckeman.free.fr/,(Nisan 2016).
[10] http://medaillesetantiques.bnf.fr,(Nisan 2016).
[11] Handler,S. Austere Luminosity of Chinese Classical
Furniture, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.
 Özer ÖZÇELİK, Timur KAPROL
IFC 2016 International Furniture Congress 13-15 October 2016

[12] Kisluk-Grosheide, D.O. Koeppe,W. Rieder,W. European

Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Highlights
of the Collection, Yale University Press, New Haven and
London,2006.
[13] Savaş,S. Kısıtlı Mekân-Mobilya Çöz“mlerinde Çağdaş
Yaklaşımlar Y“ksek Lisans Tezi, Marmara Üniversitesi,
G“zel Sanatlar Enstit“s“, İstanbul, 2011.
[14] Kassay,K., The Book Of Shaker Furniture , Univercity Of
Massachusetts Press,Pp.6,1980.
[15] Özçelik,Ö. Kaprol,T., Ekonomik ve Sosyal Yaşam Getirisi
Sınırlılığında İç Mekân Mobilyaları - )X.
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[16] Anonim, Mobilya Meselesi Mimar Dergisi Cilt:
Sayı: 1948-07-08 (199-200) s: 173-177.

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