UNIVERSITY OF NIZWA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN

INTD402
FURNITURE, FITTINGS, TEXTILE & ACESSORIES

Prepared by: Dr. Amr M. Abdel Kader

 Lecture 1 - 2 content
• History of Furniture
• Ancient Egyptian.
• Ancient Greek.
• Ancient Rome.
• Medieval.
• Gothic.
• Renaissance.
Ancient Furniture
• Ancient Furniture

• Although much ancient art such as

pottery and jewelry survives from the
earliest civilizations, ancient furniture
was mostly wooden, and has long since
rotted away.

• Our knowledge of ancient furniture is

mainly derived from scenes depicted in
early art forms, such as pottery
decorations and frescos.

• Perhaps the earliest furniture in

existence is that found at Catal Huyuk
in Turkey that dates from around 3000 Ancient pottery showing the
Furniture Design
BC.
Ancient Furniture
The best examples of ancient furniture still in existence are
those found in the tombs of Egyptian noblemen.

Ancient Egyptian Furniture 2500-1075 B.C.

The ancient Egyptians formed the first of the great classical

civilizations. While most of Europe was still in the Stone
Age, the Egyptians were building palaces, studying
mathematics and writing on papyrus. They were great
builders and great artists, drawing the inspiration for their art
from nature. A complex social and religious structure was in
place.
Ancient Furniture

Egyptian Furniture was placed in tombs for the use of the

deceased in the afterlife, and many items are still in good
condition due to the hot, dry climate and the fact that they
were sealed inside the burial chambers.
 Ancient Egyptian Furniture

Ancient Egyptian Seats

 Ancient Egyptian Furniture

Ancient Egyptian Beds

Ancient Furniture

The Ancient Egyptian artist found the nature is his source

of inspiration for creating different designs, so we can see
that chair legs were engraved with a biomorphic form
resembling wild animals' heads and legs (i.e., Lions –
Tigers) in order to present a symbolic reflection of the
strength and power of the user of the chair.

Nature was the main source of inspiration for the ancient

designer.
Ancient Furniture
Ancient Greek 499 – 79 B.C.

• The Greek history of furniture can be traced back to the heritage of 
Egyptian furniture as Egypt was eventually conquered by Alexander
the Great, and later by the Romans. .

• The earliest Greek civilizations borrowed styles and ideas from Egypt,
but by the Classical era, designs had subtly changed to a style that
was uniquely Greek.

• Lines became softer, much use was made of subtle and elegant
curves, and more attention was given to comfort.

• Although almost no furniture has survived the centuries, Greek

artwork such as pottery decorations and friezes depict daily Greek life
in Greek homes, and this has given us an accurate idea of early
Greek furniture
 Ancient Egyptian Furniture

Lines became softer, much use was made of subtle and elegant
Ancient Greek furniture curves, and more attention was given to comfort.
 Ancient Greek Furniture

Ancient Greek Pottery

Greek artwork such as pottery decorations and friezes depict daily Greek life in Greek homes, and this has
given us an accurate idea of early Greek furniture
Ancient Furniture
Ancient Rome 509 B.C. – 180 A.C

• The Republic of Rome, later known as the Roman Empire, can

truly be said to be the birthplace of our modern civilization. Since
most legal systems today are based on Roman law; Roman art,
sculpture and literature are still enjoyed to this day.

• Furniture in Roman houses tended to be sparse, since the

occupants liked space and simplicity in their decor.

• Beauty was created by mosaics, frescos and water features and

other features of Roman interiors rather than by use of elaborate
furnishings.
 Ancient Rome Furniture

Ancient Rome Furniture

Furniture in Roman houses tended to be sparse, since the occupants
liked space and simplicity in their decor.
Ancient Furniture
Ancient Rome Furniture 509 B.C.– 180 A.C

Houses in Ancient Rome made use of various

types of chairs.
Stools, folding stools and benches were
commonly used, but later these began to
evolve into proper chairs.

The stool, or sella, was the regular seat for a

person, used by men and women resting or
working, and by children and slaves at their
meals as well.
stool, or sella
Ancient Furniture
Ancient Rome Furniture 509 B.C.– 180 A.C

The bench, or subsellium, differed from the stool only in that it could seat
more than one person. It was used by senators in the curia, by jurors in
the courts, and by boys in school, as well as in private houses. A special
form of the sella was the famous curule chair (sella curulis), which had
curved ivory legs.

The bench, or subsellium

Ancient Furniture
Ancient Rome Furniture 509 B.C.– 180 A.C

• The lectus, or couch, or bed, was perhaps the most important item of
Roman style furniture. Used for sleeping, sitting, relaxing or eating, the
lectus was a wooden frame supporting criss crossed leather straps that
held a matress stuffed, originally with straw, and later with wool or
feathers.
• At one end there was an arm, as in modern sofas; sometimes there was
an arm at each end, and a back as well. The back was likely a Roman
addition to the ordinary form of the ancient couch.

The Roman Lectus

Ancient Furniture
Ancient Rome Furniture 509 B.C.– 180 A.C

• The solium - an upright, high-backed chair

with solid arms was used by the master of
the house when receiving business visitors
in the atrium, was the first improvement
upon the primitive sella.

• The solium looked like it had been cut from

a single block of wood and was so high that
a footstool was needed to reach it as with
the lectus.

The solium
Ancient Furniture
Medieval Era 476 – 1453 A.C.

• The Medieval time period (from the fall of the last Roman
Emperor, in 476 AD, to the fall of Constantinople, in 1453)
was the era in which furniture began to develop its modern
characteristics.
• Medieval furniture was primarily made of oak, since it was
easy to obtain, strong and durable.
• The most important piece of medieval furniture was the chest
or coffer.
• Chests were originally made from hollow tree trunks banded
with iron, hence the origin of the modern word 'trunk’.

The solium
Ancient Furniture
Medieval Era 476 – 1453 A.C.

• A type of chest known as the hutch could be used for packing

household possessions when traveling, but it was also used
as a seat, a desk, a table, and a couch for sleeping purposes.
When not traveling, the hutch was used for storage.
Ancient Furniture
Gothic Era 1150 – 1500 A.C.

• The Gothic styles of architecture, art and furniture date from the
12th century through to the 16th century.

• With the Byzantine influence introduced to Europe by the

crusaders, as well as Islamic and arabesque elements, furniture
and architecture became more ornate, and the typical Gothic motif
of the pointed arch became prevalent in furniture design as well as
in buildings.
Ancient Furniture
Gothic Era 1150 – 1500 A.C.

• Gothic wood furniture was mostly made from oak, although local
softwoods were also used towards the end of the period.

• Medieval Gothic style furniture was heavily carved and decorated.

Religious themes were popular in carvings, as were heraldic symbols
such as lions or hawks.

• Floral themes were also widely used, and the royal fleur-de-lis furniture
motif dates from this era.

• Paintings and inlays were also used for furniture decoration so that the
whole effect was much more ornate than the furniture of earlier eras.
Furniture pieces were large and solid, following the lines of Gothic
church furniture.
 Gothic Furniture

Motif of royal fleur-de-lis

Gothic style furniture was heavily carved and decorated. Religious themes were popular in
carvings, as were heraldic symbols such as lions or hawks.
Ancient Furniture
Gothic Era 1150 – 1500 A.C.

Gothic furniture craft paved the way for the Renaissance

period to follow, and many new items of furniture appeared at
this time.

1- The armoire for clothes storage,

2- The buffet for eating utensils,
and tables with drawers were first seen in this period.
Ancient Furniture
Gothic Era 1150 – 1500 A.C.

Gothic furniture craft paved the way for the Renaissance

period to follow, and many new items of furniture appeared at
this time.

1- The armoire for clothes storage,

2- The buffet for eating utensils,
and tables with drawers were first seen in this period.

To BE Continued in Week 2 ….