Exploring the Evolution of Furniture Design Through History

Modern furniture design evolved from a number of different influences, including the Werkbund and Bauhaus schools, exotic designs from foreign countries, Art Nouveau, and the designers and artists of the time. People have been making furniture since the Neolithic Age, with evidence of stone furniture such as cabinets, beds, and seats found in excavations at Skara Brae, Orkney, Scotland. Italian design was typically rectangular with carved bases and ornamentation reflecting architectural elements and mythological and historical figures. Foreign influences, Asian and African design in particular, began to have a noticeable effect on modern furniture makers. Desk Furniture from the Medieval period is instantly recognizable with its ornate wood carvings and stark look. The chest of drawers was said to be the most important piece of furniture in the beginning, as it faced the entrance of every house in Neolithic society and often displayed works of art carved from symbolic objects. In the '20s, the famous Art Deco emerged in Paris. Unlike Bauhaus, Art Deco celebrated luxury and sophistication. Furniture from this period was known for its symmetrical and curved shapes. The furniture designs that emerged from the Bauhaus became some of the most influential designs in modern design. Modern furniture design has stood the test of time with people's taste in furniture changing and evolving as the years pass. Jacobean Furniture followed the Renaissance with a gradual change to a less ornamented, quieter style of furniture. In Britain table legs became straighter and narrower than were typical of earlier pieces and instead spiral turned legs became typical of this period. The transitional style combines the best of contemporary and traditional design with clean lines, rich fabrics and a combination of old and new, masculine and feminine. The Activist sofa by Whom is a great example of transitional style, a mix of traditional and plush comfort with a touch of nervousness in its triangular arms. Very few wooden furniture survives intact, but there is evidence that a variety of woods were used such as maple, citron, beech, oak and holly. From antique Greek furniture to ancient Egyptian furniture, medieval Gothic furniture, Roman designs to ultra-modern styles - it's impossible to list all the influences of design history on current furniture styles. However, it's clear that modern furniture design has been shaped by centuries of innovation.