Klismos
A Klismos ( ancient Greek : κλισμός ; Latin : cathedra ) is a seat from ancient times . It was developed as early as the fifth century BC. A slightly curved backrest and curved chair legs with outward-facing feet are typical of the Klismos. It is considered to be one of the earliest examples of a design in which ergonomic aspects play a role.
The Klismos is a high chair without armrests, but with a wide, sweeping backrest. Ever since Homer , this form of chair has been used as a seat by noble people, heroes and gods. In both Greek and Roman art, the klismos is found in such scenes. He is also often seen in school and house chamber scenes as well as in other everyday depictions. Footrests such as stools or foot cushions are also often shown for comfortable sitting. In addition, one often sees how the seated person places their arm on the backrest to relax. A simpler seating is diphros .
The Klismos was built around the fifth century AD. In classicism this design was used again. The architect Jean-Jacques Lequeu had it rebuilt in 1786 in order to furnish the hôtel Montholon, which was furnished in the “Etruscan style”. Unlike the watercolored drawings of the furnishings, the furnishings have not been preserved. Other chairs built in Paris with this design were intended for the painter Jacques-Louis David and were built by Georges Jacob in 1788. They served as accessories for David's historical paintings.
literature
- Harvey Green: Wood - Craft, Culture, History . Penguin Books, New York 2006, ISBN 978-0-14-311269-3
- Rolf Hurschmann : Klismos in: Der Neue Pauly Vol. 6 (1999), Sp. 605f.
