Origins and evolution of the chair

The chair is both decorative and utilitarian. It is very present in the West, and its history dates back a long time ago... The chair, or armchair, has undergone many changes both in terms of aesthetics and in terms of its functionality.

The origin of the chair

According to our current knowledge, the chair was invented by the Egyptian civilization around 2600 BC. These are then seats with a straight backrest with refined decorations (with the example of Tutankhamun's chair).

At that time, comfort, design or ergonomics were not criteria to be taken into account in manufacturing.

Its main role is the promotion of social rank, which thus represented a certain demonstration of power. Indeed, the higher the individual's rank, the larger and more sumptuous the chair.

A first ergonomic evolution thanks to the Geeks

In ancient Greece the chair became more ergonomic more thoughtful in terms of utility. Then they got their own names: "Klismos".

These chairs are characterized by curved legs, also called “sabres”, with “the front legs facing forwards and the rear legs facing backwards”.

Its backrest is much softer than the Egyptian chair, and the wood is replaced by braided leather. Its backrest is also curved in a "semi-circular" shape to ensure better adaptation to human morphology.

From the Middle Age to the Renaissance

The chair did not change significantly in the Middle Ages.

We have to wait for the Renaissance (1300-1700) to see the diversity and democratization of seats. This multiplication is largely explained by the demand and the technological progress of the time. The exponential development of trade created or rather increased the demand for so-called "seated" or bureaucratic trade, and also led to the development of chairs and work tools. You have to write, write, copy and transcribe, and for that you have to be able to sit, preferably correctly. The ergonomics of the chair subsequently became the manufacturing standard, it is necessary to take into account the particularities of human morphology.

Unlike klismos, the chairs are covered in wool or even velvet fabrics. The seats are thus padded and therefore ensure better seating and better comfort for its users. From this moment, many different models are born, responding to different needs.

A great change brought about by the industrial area

At the beginning of the industrial era, many areas of activity were impacted, furniture being no exception.

As we can imagine today, many innovations have emerged, and a radical change in production has been implemented: rapid manufacturing, at the lowest cost. In view of the development of society and in particular of the bureaucracy, the wheelchair quickly becomes a necessity for many trades. This constitutes a major change for the seat in general, hitherto considered a luxury.

With regard to the manufacturing itself and in order to optimize the process, it was necessary to look for tools and innovations in other fields in order to apply them to the chairs (for example, to take inspiration from the maritime world to set up the padding spring). New ideas appeared with the various exchanges of different fields, optimizing little by little the aesthetic aspect, but also at the level of the materials.

Thanks to this, a wide variety of chairs developed (different shapes, materials, etc.) naturally giving rise to designer furniture.

Chairs in our area 

Nowadays, countless different models of chairs exist. The objective is to meet all needs by being in a logic of personalization. This is why the appearance, the material, the ergonomics vary so much in the models that we can meet.

When it comes to design, there is something for everyone. In terms of ergonomics, needs must be met, in particular new problems linked to our society such as back pain.

It is in this logic that the relaxation armchair appeared! At My New Design, we try to combine the two previous aspects: design and ergonomics!

However, we want to offer models suitable for everyone, which is why we offer 2 large families:

• Relax armchairs, focused on relaxation functions and ease of use
• Design armchairs, without neglecting comfort