History of Interiors Wk. 2 -- Ancient Civilizations

 This week, we learned about the ancient Egyptians and the interiors that they built for themselves. This period is significant because the elite of the time practiced the custom of entombing their dead, especially when rulers were laid to rest. As a result, some of the oldest surviving pieces of furniture, including wooden items, have been preserved, as they were buried and preserved with their owners. One example is the Great Hypostyle Hall, located in the Karnak temple complex within the Precinct of Amon-Re, one of Ancient Egypt's most visited monuments. "Hypostyle" refers to an architectural design featuring an ample space with a flat room supported by rows of columns.

During the New Kingdom of Egypt (1570-1090 B.C.), furniture, particularly armchairs, significantly contributed to design. Commonly used woods include cedar, cypress, and ebony, with decorations of gold, silver, ivory, precious stones, and enamels. Furniture used in religious and state ceremonies was especially ornate. Furniture legs were often carved to symbolize strength and power, resembling ox hooves, lion paws, or hawk talons. Egyptian art was also highly stylized but was also conventional and conservative, meaning that it changed over time.




Modern Day Examples:

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2.
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1. The Memphis Pyramid
2. Slovak Radio Building
3. The Louvre
4. Muttart Conservatory




Comments

  1. Rebeca HerreraSeptember 14, 2024 at 6:59 AM

    I like the detail you used to describe the furniture! Your examples are also really cool!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sami FordSeptember 14, 2024 at 1:28 PM

    I am intrigued to where your modern day applications are actually found and why those architects took such inspiration from the pyramids! Great examples!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Professor VanderNoordaaSeptember 15, 2024 at 11:35 AM

    Rebeca- I appreciate your thoughtful summary of the material this week. Your examples for current applications were great. I have never seen the Slovac Radio Building before. You need to include "One Step Further" to complete your Blog entry and receive full credit.
    45/50 total points

    ReplyDelete

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