Ancient Greek Original Klismos Chair

This design was developed in ancient greece during the 5th century bce and it was often depicted in greek pottery and sculpture.

Ancient greek original klismos chair.

Most klismos chairs have flaring saber legs placed in oppostion to one another as opposed to the illustration above which has only two rear saber legs. Perfected by the 5th century bc and popular throughout the 4th century bc the klismos had four curving splayed legs and curved back rails with a narrow concave backrest between them often illustrated on greek pottery the design was resurrected in the french directoire english regency and american empire styles. We have women men gods and clearly important people musicians workers rybczynski told me. Many ancient artifacts such as pottery and sculptures illustrate the famous chair but unfortunately not a single piece of an original klismos chair has been found to this day.

In epic klismos signifies an armchair but no specific description is given of its form. The curved tapered legs slope. However the greeks left a rich history of sculpture and paintings depicting the chair. Although almost no furniture has survived the centuries greek artwork such as pottery decorations and friezes depict daily greek life in greek homes and this has given us an accurate idea of early greek furniture design.

No original greek chairs survived into modern times. Robsjohn gibbings s design derives from the ancient klismos chair introduced in greece during the fifth century. Klismoi are familiar from depictions of ancient furniture on painted pottery and in bas reliefs from the mid fifth century bce onwards. 1937 terence harold robsjohn gibbings american born england.

Ancient greek furniture was typically constructed out of wood though it might also be made of stone or metal such as bronze iron gold and silver. The klismos is elegant and light. It was a. Pieces were assembled using mortise and tenon joinery held together with.

Catalogue description klismos side chair a of walnut frame and leather seat with fabric cushion b. Inspiration for the klismos chair came from ancient greek furnishings specifically the klismos greek singular. In iliad xxiv after priam s appeal achilles rises from his thronos raises the elder man to his feet goes out to prepare hector s body for decent. Supported by two back stiles which are squared at top then become columnar forms which widens toward seat then continue into back legs and terminate in.

Little wood survives from ancient greece though varieties mentioned in texts concerning greece and rome include maple oak beech yew and willow. The klismos chair fell out of use until the 18th century discovery. After the fall of the roman empire the chair declined in popularity and during the middle ages it remained neglected until the most important archaeological excavation of the 18th century. Klismos light elegant chair developed by the ancient greeks.