Egypt, China & Japan

 Hello my fellow chair lovers!

This past week we journeyed through Africa & Asia, specifically China and Japan.  The ancient cultures in these regions are remarkable. The ingenuity of these early humans is astonishing and makes me want to also take a class on anthropology.  Why do we see a lot of same shapes and designs across the world, looooooooong before we could find inspiration on Pinterest?  How did they ever figure out putting sticks and mud together could create a dwelling?  Mind. Blown.  

First stop: EGYPT 3000 B.C.

What a time to be alive!  Architectural feats like the pyramids, columns and campaniforms! Pharaohs, King Tut, the first emojis! 😲 The Egyptians were an intriguing culture and have certainly made a lasting impression on humankind.  Many of their innovations are still used today.  

But we're here to talk about the amazing ✨chairs✨ the Egyptian people created.  From very basic stools to over-the-top boujee, chairs were created not only for practical purposes but to also convey status. They were built using metals or wood and adorned with exquisite carvings and jewels.  Some of them even had animal feet for the feet! SO fancy!

                                                                 

Up Next: CHINA  

Chinese history is broken up into dynasties, according to what emperor was ruling at the time.  In 2696 BC, silk was discovered by an empress who was sipping on her morning tea.  A cocoon from a mulberry tree plopped into her tea and as it began to unwind, she noticed how wonderful the threads felt, and the rest is, as they say, history.  The Chinese created garments, furnishings and art from silk. 

The Chinese held the secret of creating silk for nearly a 1000 years and thus it became a very sought after commodity.  During the Han Dynasty, the Silk Road was created as a means of trade between China and Europe. Other commodities such as gold, livestock and cotton, etc. were traded as well. 

Final Stop: JAPAN 

There is a quiet steadiness to Japanese culture.  They revel in nature's beauty and Japan offers no shortage of spectacular scenes.  From mountain tops to tropical jungles, Japan is a breathtaking country.  The ancient Japanese built their homes with intention, with very little decor.   Today, we see this minimalistic style still being incorporated into lifestyles around the world.  The materials used allowed their homes to blend with the outside.  Wide paper screens allowed in natural light, and when open, you could look out into the natural landscape.  

Let's take a look at how some of these ancient elements are still around today.

This first photo shows a folding stool very similar to the ones found in ancient Egypt, available from Grandin Road.  It is made from wood and woven leather straps and costs $250.  

Silk remains a highly regarded textile.  Although imitations have been invented, nothing quite beats the smoothness of 100% silk.  Today, silks are mostly used for the fashion industry and bedding.  Here is a king sheet set made from 100% pure Mulberry silk sold by Mulberry Park Silks.  This set of includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases for $775!  💸💸💸

Akin to Japan's use of paper screens, paper shades are still commonly used in interior design today.  These are sold by Pottery Barn and made from 91% paper and 9% polyester.  They are available in many different sizes with prices ranging from $350 to over $1000.  

We are just getting going!  Next, we'll hop on over to Europe to study Greece and France! Stay tuned!!