Furniture Shopping is a Cultural Experience

Have you ever wondered about the furniture in your home? The variety of materials and decoration methods use in the chair has elevated it from a functional tool to a distinctive and cultural art form. Almost every basic material has been used to decorate furniture. The most common is inlaying, painting, gilding, carving, veneering, and marquetry.

Furniture is cultural specific, but it also draws on cultures of the past. In a way, this creates a connection with the past and other parts of the world. The western world has drawn artistic styles from four main sources: Egyptian, Asian (Persian and Chinese), Greek, and Gothic.

The first pieces of furniture sold were probably the chest and the stool, or a primitive chair, the table and the bed. Still, as basic as these sometimes appear, different cultures have made them unique. Oriental furniture has distinctive carvings and inlays on ebony and teak. Egyptian pieces as old as 6 000 years displays advanced woodworking, structure, and decorations of gold, ivory, and animal forms. The Greeks favored a low couch, the tripod, and graceful, curved outlines. The Romans conquered the world and drew their inspiration from foreign lands. During the imperial period they adopted Greek and Etruscan forms.

The industrial revolution had a major impact on the chair. One item that is truly unique to the 20th century is the all-metal folding chairs, and metal-legged chairs, like banquet chairs Other chairs distinctive to our age are the Slumber Chair, moulded plastic chair, and the ergonomic chairs that grace most offices and the recliner or easy chair. The recliner is a good idea of a 'new trend' started by radio and television.

The 1960s produced new forms of chairs: the butterfly chair, Bean bags, the egg or pod chair. It also introduces simpler lines, easier to care for textures, and more dramatic colors. Technological advances led to molded plywood and laminate wood chairs, as well as chairs made of leather or polymers. And, of course, the most inventive item, the massage chair which is now available world wide.

If you are interested in shopping for furniture online then check out, Best Furniture Online. They really have created the best online experience. Their years of experience in the Commercial and Institutional Furniture industry, have made them recognize the challenges in purchasing online. They are not a huge company, so they can provide competitive pricing and outstanding customer service. Even though they are online, they are customer oriented, ready with advice and courteous service.

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