Italian Renaissance: Furniture (Chairs) Menelik Mckay Italian Renaissance: Furniture (Chairs)

How Renaissance Furniture Came about? At the beginning of the Renaissance in the early 15th century, there were changes in furniture forms that were to spread over Europe. The growth of a wealthy and powerful Middle class caused the building of more substantial houses and a demand for good furniture.

What were Renaissance furniture made OF? Furniture was mainly made of Walnut wood during this period but oak, cedar, and cypress are also typical.  Construction gradually increases in complexity and some stools were even made of iron.  Furniture during this time had classical ornament, and is rectilinear and massive.  The most common decorations are carving, inlay, painting, and gilding

Some of the most famous Renaissance Furniture were. The Sgabello The Sedia The Savonarola The Dante

Sgabello A seat with a small wooden slab, supported at front and back by solid boards cut into an ornamental shape, and was supported by two legs at the front and one in the rear. Armchairs and side chairs have velvet or leather seats and decorative panels between the back uprights.

Sedia This was a box-shaped armchair with runners. that had four bulky block like legs and usually consit of leather upholstery.

Savonarola This was a X-form folding chair but instead of having four legs, it has several narrow wooden interlacing slats, also typically wavy like Dante chairs and was often used by scholars.

Dante This was a X-form chairs with four legs, which was referred to as a seat of honor.

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