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