| the evolution of time, mankind has searched for | | | | commodity, along with the demand of the chairs |
| comfortable seating for their backside. There was | | | | looking good, came the demand for chairs to feel |
| a time when seats as simple as leaves on the | | | | good as well. This new requirement brought to life |
| ground or grass, was more than satisfactory. But | | | | a whole new generation of chair designers whose |
| that's the story of our ancestors. As the times | | | | main focus was comfort. The Frenchmen, in |
| changed, so did the needs and demands of the | | | | particular, had a great knack for designing |
| human race. As with everything else, the need for | | | | lightweight and comfortable chairs. In fact, it was |
| more comfortable and luxuriant furniture was | | | | the French designers who set the foundation |
| painfully apparent. When one thinks of sitting | | | | stones to the path leading to our modern chairs. |
| down, the first thing that comes into mind is a | | | | The new chairs could be used for resting and |
| chair. It has become second nature for us to sit | | | | sleeping in addition to more traditional roles of |
| on chairs. We take them for granted, assuming | | | | being used for dining and work. |
| they had always been there for us. However, | | | | As we stepped into the 18th century, the chairs |
| that is not the story of our fine four legged | | | | used became curvier than ever before. Legs, |
| friends. | | | | back rests, arms were all being fashioned into |
| Chairs, derived from the Latin word 'cathedra', did | | | | curves that were supposed to fit the shape of |
| not come into existence until the innovative times | | | | the body. The increase in the amount of curves in |
| of the ancient Greeks and was limited only to | | | | the chairs increased the demand for raw material |
| royalty. The Egyptians, however, beat the Greek | | | | and financial backing, neither of which was easy to |
| in the race to excellence. Egyptian chairs, which | | | | get, since the designs soon died out. |
| started out as common pieces of furniture, had | | | | After the curves of the 18th century, we saw |
| carved their names in history books by the | | | | reflections of the past in the designs of the 19th |
| second dynasty of the Pharaoh's rule. The royal | | | | century as we revisited the traditions of our |
| workshops started creating pieces of art in the | | | | forefathers. Technological advancements of the |
| form of chairs, inlaid with colored wood, ebony | | | | 20th century once again changed the type of |
| and ivory; decorated with gold, silver and precious | | | | chairs we preferred. As the world moved |
| stones. Over time, chairs coming out of Egyptian | | | | towards consumerism and dilution of technology |
| workshops attained the heights of intricacy, in | | | | through all levels of society, modernization in chair |
| both design and construction. | | | | designs came in the form of merging the |
| The Greeks, who were after all the pioneers of | | | | traditional chair with modern technology. |
| chair design, leaped forward in the race of chair | | | | New research was incorporated into designs well |
| development and reached their peak with the | | | | loved to create more comfortable chairs, in |
| creation of the klismo; a light weight, elegant chair | | | | accordance to the requirements of the |
| with curved legs, back rails and back rest. The | | | | consumers. New advances included innovations |
| success of this chair can be seen from the fact | | | | such as the automatic wheel chairs, chairs with |
| that the Romans, not only adopted this design for | | | | adjustable heights and angles, orthopedic chairs, |
| themselves, but also took the liberty of | | | | special chairs for the elderly and many more. |
| introducing them in almost all parts of their empire. | | | | As the world went through its many eras going |
| They took to the Greek chair, even though they | | | | through changes, noticeable and subtle, in areas |
| had quite a number of designs to their own name | | | | such as fashion, architecture and car designs, |
| in the form of ordinary chairs called Sella; | | | | chairs were not merely silent spectators. They |
| couch-like seats called the Lectica; the Curule, a | | | | went through changes of their own, most of |
| folding chair used mostly by Senators; and the | | | | which we failed to notice or give importance to. |
| king of them all, the Bisellium, the chair occupied | | | | The fact remains that these advances in seating |
| by the Emperor during the games at the | | | | designs have greatly affected our lives and they |
| Colosseum. | | | | will diligently continue to change our lives for the |
| Chairs owe their publicity in heaps, to the 17th | | | | better as much as possible with or without |
| century Renaissance, which changed the idea of | | | | receiving the credit they deserve. Here's a shout |
| chairs being set aside for the high and mighty, to | | | | out to the people who help us sit more |
| them being used by every household that could | | | | comfortably each day. May you continue to do so |
| afford them. As the chairs became a common | | | | for ever more. |