New Folding Chairs

Archive for the ‘History’ Category

In the sixteenth century, the “sedia della forbice,” or scissors chair, descended from the faldistorium, in two main styles: the “savonarola” and the “dantesca.”

As a ceremonial seat, the folding stool evolved in two ways, one secular and the other religious. The Roman sella curulis assumes the form of the Carolingian (a dynasty that controlled the Frankish realm from the eighth to tenth centuries) “faldistorium” through the Longobard (named after a Germanic people from Scandinavia who settled in Rome) “sella plicatilis” in steel. The crossed legs became frontal instead of lateral to emphasize the “X,” a symbol of authority. One example is the throne of Dagobert I, king of the Franconians.

In the sixteenth century, the “sedia della forbice,” or scissors chair, descended from the faldistorium, in two main styles: the “savonarola” and the “dantesca.” These were followed by the “chair of petrarca” and the “sedia a tenaglia,” or princer chair, with the crossed legs again on the sides.

During the Baroque period, chairs with crossed legs were expensive, and the X symbol had great value throughout the period of Louis XIV-XVI. The name of Napoleon I’s field chair, the “fauteuil,” was derived from the older French word “faldestoel,” which in turn was derived from the Latin word “faldistorium.” The fauteuil is the ancestor of the twentieth century movie director’s chair.

The modern chair is an integral part of individual, institutional, business, and family life.

As the folding chair became more widely used in common society, the technical advances and design solutions grew. The value of the foldable chair as a symbol of status or authority decreased as its popular use increased. By the nineteenth century, the use of folding chairs was widespread. They were commonly seen in public places where seating frequently had to be adapted to accommodate different events, seating arrangements, and numbers of participants.

The modern foldable chair is an integral part of individual, institutional, business, and family life. It was created during the years of 1965 to 1975 during a time of great social unrest and technological progress all over the world.

Registered patents of novel ideas in the design of folding chairs and stools number in the thousands all over the world. Many designers, inventors, and gadget makers have turned their creative energy toward chair design with an eye to fold ability, adjustability, and flexibility. Who knows what new folding chair may be on the market tomorrow?

A drawing of King Tutankhamun shows him sitting on a forward-sloping stool that has its front legs shorter than those of the rear.

In the early history of Egypt, about 3100 B.C., workers sat on the ground, while Egyptians of high rank sat on cushioned stools. One of these stools, on display at the Royal Ontario Museum, reveals exceptional workmanship and advanced carpentry techniques. Then, in 2133 B.C., the portable, folding cross-legged stool made its appearance and became a favorite on the battlefield. It was constructed of two frames joined together by a piece of leather glued to each frame. Then around 1786 B.C., the three-legged stool appeared, and by 1567 B.C., many paintings showed tradesmen sitting on these stools to do their work. The stools had flared legs, which made them more stable than four-legged stools. By this time the folding stool had become a common piece of household furniture.

The Egyptian folding stool and, later, the Greek and Etruscan versions comprised the prototype of the Roman chair, or “sella curulis,” which was adapted to be used in the public tribunal during the republican period of Roman history. In all the ancient cultures—Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other Mediterranean lands—the folding chair was carried onto the battlefield, especially for the use of the commanding officers. These early versions were lightweight and portable and could be carried from one battlefield to another with ease.

Apparently they were also built for priests and royalty. For example, an ecclesiastical throne from around 1350 B.C. found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb proved to be a highly decorated and well-crafted version of a folding chair—with back support, no less. A drawing of King Tutankhamun shows him sitting on a forward-sloping stool that has its front legs shorter than those of the rear. By this time, stools came in many different styles and were the most popular kind of seating for people of all classes. The chair was no longer a symbol of authority, but rather a common functional household item.