HISTORY OF FURNITURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1927, Page 2

HISTORY OF FURNITURE

BABYLONIAN AND ASSYRIAN

The climate and creeds of Babylon not being so favourable as those of Egypt, no complete example has been discovered of either Babylonian or Assyrian furniture. Sculptures enable us, however, to picture accurately the forms of furniture in vogue among both races.

The legs of Babylonian and Assyrian furniture terminated usually in similar fashions to Egyptian—i.e., in lions’ paws or bulls’ hoofs, but the Assyrians also used square legs, with a base of large inverted, pine cones. Under Assyrian rule a more massive framework was adopted for furniture. Monuments and rock tablets show at times, in common with Egyptian records, thrones curiously supported not only by lions, but by human figures, presumably intended to represent prisoners. Tables and couches appear to have been practically identical in design with the seats, and, like the seats, to have favoured lions’ heads when terminals to arms were required. -A fairly complete representation of Assyrian furniture is shown on a sculptured slab representing a king feasting with his queen in the palace gardens. The queen is seated upon a throne so high as to require a footstool. The king rests on a couch, the head end of which is curved forward and forms a species of arm rest. The legs and rails of the couch are square and the feet are ornamented with human figures and lions, as well as moulded and scrolled. Between their majesties is shown a high table, upon which the fare for the feast is displayed, whilst by the king’s side is a small lower table, on which his bow, quiver, and sword are placed. These pieces of royal furniture were probably made of cedar, though ebony teak, and walnut were also imported and used in conjunction with ivory and the precious metals for inlays. Homage almost universal is paid to the pure line/the perfect proportion, and the grace of ancient art in Greece which, though little more than a pinpoint upon the surface of Europe erected permanent standards in philosophy, literature, and art. Greek furniture possesses the fundamental simplicity of line, balance, and reserve of ornament which characterise Greek architecture. Olive, cedar, cypress, yew, oak, box, ebony woods were largely not only for the furniture and woodwork, but also for the statues of the gods, which were brightly painted and gilded, the face, hands, and feet being at times carved in marble. The oldest records of Greek furniture show wooden chairs with absolutely upright backs, the frame of the seat being mortised to the legs. There being no need to provide leg space under the tables, they were much lower than those of our own days, and the tops were not required to project in order to afford additional knee comfort. The couches used for sleep and at meals were (as was the fashion with the Egyptians and Babylonians) practically elongations of the chairs and thrones.