Pre-History

We explore the prehistoric past in the first chapter of Mark Hinchman's "History of Furniture," delving into the history of furniture design. This historical period, which spans from the first human societies to the invention of written records, displays the first attempts at both useful and ornamental furniture.

Early humans made crude furniture out of natural materials including wood, stone, and animal hides throughout the prehistoric era. These were mostly utilitarian pieces that met demands for storage, sleeping, and seating. The simple designs were influenced by the materials that were available and the semi-nomadic or nomadic lifestyles that were prevalent at the time.

Simple seats, stools, and sleeping platforms are examples of artifacts from this era that show the early attempts at combining comfort and functionality. Archaeological evidence from places like prehistoric cave shelters and burial grounds indicates that early furniture had ceremonial and symbolic importance in addition to being useful.

Key features of pre-historic furniture include:

  • Material Use: Furniture was made from locally available resources.
  • Simplicity: Designs were functional with minimal decoration.
  • Adaptability: Furniture often had multi-purpose functions.
Images of pre-historic furniture




Images of Current Applications of Pre-Historic Design

Modern Rustic Furniture
Natural Material Seating
  
Multi-functional Modern Pieces



One Step Further: Spotlight on an Interesting Figure

Architect of Interest: Louis Sullivan

Louis Sullivan, known as the "father of skyscrapers," revolutionized modern architecture with his emphasis on form following function. His designs, which include the Wainwright Building and the Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company Building, reflect a strong influence of pre-historic functionalism blended with early modern aesthetics. Sullivan's work can be seen as a bridge between the functional simplicity of pre-historic furniture and the elaborate designs of the modern era.

Further Research:

For more information and a deeper understanding of the pre-history of furniture you can also watch this following youtube video: YouTube

Kommentare

  1. Professor VanderNoordaa6. September 2024 um 05:43

    I am seeing if I can post!

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  2. Eliana Johnson6. September 2024 um 10:41

    I love how you didn't just use pictures of exteriors but used it in more of an interior design perspective! I thought it was so interesting to see the chairs that you had pictures of! I also appreciate how short and sweet but still detailed your post was!

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  3. Sami Ford6. September 2024 um 10:43

    I like how your really focused on the furniture, how it was simplistic, used local materials, and adapted for several functions. Also, modern natural material seating is so interesting. I wonder how they got the rocks to sit so perfectly on top of one another?

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  4. Katie6. September 2024 um 15:03

    I love the pictures you used to illustrate the different examples of prehistoric interiors. And the current application examples that you chose are very interesting!

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