Erica Dawn Nelson
Greek Furniture: 3,000 – 100 BC
Ancient Greek furniture was very basic.Homes tended to have little in the way of
furniture.Couches and stools were the main pieces,
along with chests for keeping valuables.Small tables were also used, mainly to set
food on.
Greek Furniture
To the left and above are thrones seen in bas reliefs
Here we see several examples of stools and chairs
These couches were used as beds, dining chairs, and a place to lounge.
They were the most essential piece of furniture in the ancient Greek home.
Klines
Kline and Trapeza
Klines were one
of the only actual
pieces of
furniture in
Greek homes, and
so it is not
surprising that
they were well
decorated.
Here we see one
of the trapeza
tables
underneath as
well.
Another example of a highly decorated kline and equally decorated trapeza table.
This kline also appears to have the same markings and decorations as the previous
illustration.
Kline Reconstruction
A kline was
made of wood or
bronze, and was
often richly
adorned.
This is a modern-
day
reconstruction of
what a basic
kline may have
looked like.
Called the trapeza or sometimes the trapeze table, this is the most common table to be found in ancient Greek homes.
It is very distinct, having only three legs.Also, the third leg always seems
to face outward, while the two that are together face each of the sides.
They were often lion-footed, but as seen here, not always so.
Tables
Aside from couches and tables, there were also stools and chairs. The most notable are seen below.
Stools and Chairs
These seem to be the most common type of stool.
They were meant to be easily folded to put away and unfold for use.
X-Frame Stools
These chairs are most often depicted with women seated in them.
Klismos are very distinct with their outward-bowed legs and curved backs.
Klismos Chairs
Chests were used primarily to store linens and valuables.
Most other Greek possessions seemed to be hung on the walls instead of stored in furniture.
Chests
“In Design And Architecture, a 'Meander' is a decorative border constructed from a continuous line, shaped into a repeated motif.
Such a design is also called The Greek Key or Greek Fret.”
“It was the most important symbol in Ancient Greece, symbolizing infinity and unity: most ancient Greek temples incorporate the sign of the meander.
Greek vases, especially during their Geometric Period, were likely the genesis for the widespread use of meanders.”
Furniture Decoration - Meanders
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12254/12254-h/12254-h.htmhttp://
www.antique-furniture-reproductions.com/Ancient_egyptian_furniture.htm
http://showbed.com/tag/greek/http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grekisk_stol,_
Nordisk_familjebok.pnghttp://
www.theatre.ubc.ca/dress_decor/ancient_world_furniture_greece.htm
http://soodiebeasley.blogspot.com/2009/01/klismos-chair-most-popular-chair.html
http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greek/Furniture.htmlhttp://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Furniture/Furniture.htmhttp://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Furniture/Furniture2.htmhttp://
reneefinberg.blogspot.com/2008/10/greek-key-is-meander.html
Sources