Leather SeatingThen & Now
The history of seating is long and colourful, evidently starting from the Egyptian era around 3000 B.C. The types of seats used and their functions have undergone a myriad of changes from the way they are designed to the way they are used.
Its interesting to note that seating isnt just about a seat, but a cultural assimilation of values, from a comfortable chair in your home to the way its evolved in business, politics, and even religion. The initial seat makers were carpenters, cabinet makers and craftsmen. They were followed by decorators and upholsterers until the beginning of the 20th century, after which architects and professional designers emerged.
The stool was the most common and earliest piece of furniture developed by the early Egyptian culture. Its been used since then for a variety of reasons. By the time of the second major dynasty in Egypt, the stool had taken on a new form, reserved only for royalties and other high ranking officials. As its cultural connotation evolved, so did its design. Seating began to look more substantial in its structure, sometimes with a low backrest and often higher than the stool. This slight change by adding low backrest to the chair is one of the most prolific developments in the history of seating, greatly inspiring contemporary furniture design.
Later around the early Greek era (750 - 475 BC), a period of sophistication in seating design was seen, represented in the paintings and sculpture of the time. Again, there was a major cultural influence here! The Greeks had become accustomed to couches for sleeping or dining, and eating in reclining positions. With the evolution of culture, seating also began to be accessorized.
The use of leather upholstery can be traced back to the Renaissance period in Europe during the 16th century, during which Spanish craftsmen enhanced techniques for embossing, tooling, and painting leather furniture. All types of furniture were covered with leather and embellished with decorative patterns and by the 18th century, the art of preserving hides and tanning them into fine leather upholstery was perfected. While ox-hides and calf-skins were used on Louis XIV designer chairs, fine goat leather was often the choice for leather furniture designers like Chippendale and others.
Due to its durability, comfort and powerful status symbol, ownership of exclusive leather furniture is still considered to be a privilege of the elite. Whether its a leather chair used by a family patriarch or comfortable leather sofas found in homes, leather furniture reflects an aura of speechless power to all who use it. One of the main advantages of contemporary leather furniture design is that it can combine avant-garde styles with the leathers traditional look and feel. Whether its intended for the TV room, the lounge, office or bedroom, the classic combination of leather with intriguing designs offers the best of both worlds.
Its interesting to note that seating isnt just about a seat, but a cultural assimilation of values, from a comfortable chair in your home to the way its evolved in business, politics, and even religion. The initial seat makers were carpenters, cabinet makers and craftsmen. They were followed by decorators and upholsterers until the beginning of the 20th century, after which architects and professional designers emerged.
The stool was the most common and earliest piece of furniture developed by the early Egyptian culture. Its been used since then for a variety of reasons. By the time of the second major dynasty in Egypt, the stool had taken on a new form, reserved only for royalties and other high ranking officials. As its cultural connotation evolved, so did its design. Seating began to look more substantial in its structure, sometimes with a low backrest and often higher than the stool. This slight change by adding low backrest to the chair is one of the most prolific developments in the history of seating, greatly inspiring contemporary furniture design.
Later around the early Greek era (750 - 475 BC), a period of sophistication in seating design was seen, represented in the paintings and sculpture of the time. Again, there was a major cultural influence here! The Greeks had become accustomed to couches for sleeping or dining, and eating in reclining positions. With the evolution of culture, seating also began to be accessorized.
The use of leather upholstery can be traced back to the Renaissance period in Europe during the 16th century, during which Spanish craftsmen enhanced techniques for embossing, tooling, and painting leather furniture. All types of furniture were covered with leather and embellished with decorative patterns and by the 18th century, the art of preserving hides and tanning them into fine leather upholstery was perfected. While ox-hides and calf-skins were used on Louis XIV designer chairs, fine goat leather was often the choice for leather furniture designers like Chippendale and others.
Due to its durability, comfort and powerful status symbol, ownership of exclusive leather furniture is still considered to be a privilege of the elite. Whether its a leather chair used by a family patriarch or comfortable leather sofas found in homes, leather furniture reflects an aura of speechless power to all who use it. One of the main advantages of contemporary leather furniture design is that it can combine avant-garde styles with the leathers traditional look and feel. Whether its intended for the TV room, the lounge, office or bedroom, the classic combination of leather with intriguing designs offers the best of both worlds.
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