 - design - aerobics ------------------------------- role of the chaise-longue (daybed) in different cultures: |
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--- page 1 of 3 / page 2 of 3 / page 3 of 3 --- africa ---  early african chaise-longue  the royal cameroon bed  an african headrest --- the olmecs ---  stone carved (day) bed / bench  reclining deity of the olmecs --- south america ---  indians recline in a hammock  hammock, fernández de oviedo y valdés, 'la historia general y natural de las indias...' ming period --- the arab world ---  the divan  a reclining prince (ca. 1530)  arab reclining on a rug, 1857 photo by william grundy --- see more: page 1 of 3 / page 2 of 3 / page 3 of 3 --- |
the reason for this lack of documentation were social/cultural characteristic of the african people themselves. the african tradition of orally passing on history does not provide a good means for maintaining records of aesthetics. the total concept of furniture had a different meaning to the peoples of africa since there lifestyle was nomadic. historically in the african village household furniture was scarce and the concept of the bedroom and formalized sleeping with all it associated furniture items was non existent. it is in this realm of objects of necessity were we can find the stool and its derivatives of head rest, back rest and evidences of the lounge. the designs of african furniture often incorporate the cultural norm of one being seated on the ground, the backrests can be considered a lounge accessory of sorts, where by the user's torso is supported in a reclining position when laying on the ground. primitive men slept on the ground on straw beds or animal skins. parts evolved through need to protect from insects or dampness. nevertheless objects have functioned as powerful organizing symbols, connecting spiritual and social values and roles, nd representing various cultural histories. african arts and objects link the various conceptual worlds of african societies and, as such, continue to play dynamic roles in the lives of many societies. stools and chairs were significant objects of leadership regalia. these stools were richly ornamented in silver, ivory and other rare, precious and expensive materials to emphasize the ruler's power and authority. the king's stool is especially revered because the king represents the nation's soul. indeed, the stool is so significant the asante believe the golden stool was sent down from heaven during the reign of osei tutu (c. 1701) to house the soul of the asante peoples. no one, not even the king, was allowed to sit on it. the stools of all subsequent kings are, upon their deaths, preserved in commemoration and as a resting place for their souls. in zaire chiefs where kept off the ground as symbol of their holiness. they were carried around aloft, if nothing was on hand they sat on somebody’s back. they did not sleep or recline on the ground but on ceremonial beds or backrests. the royal cameroon bed is carved from one single section of hard wood. it is an objects whose function is spiritually connected and utilized only by the members of the royal family. it is used exclusively by the king when he is faced with a difficult problem or dilemma. it is believed that when he lies down on the bed with problems on his mind that the ancestors will come to him in his sleep and resolve the issues for him. the olmecs were a culture of ancient peoples (1300-400 B.C.) of the east mexico lowlands. they are often regarded as the mother culture of later middle american civilizations. perhaps the most incredible findings from the olmec culture are the sculptures. the olmec used wood, basalt and jade to make the statues. here are a sculpture of a reclining deitiy and of a bench shaped bed. in south america, the aboriginals did not need much in a temperate, not so lush as brazil, underbrush. they lounged and slept in hammocks of which every mercosur country has it’s own version, specially brazil and paraguay, with a cheap mataco indian model from the chaco underbrush. hammocks don’t have legs, are hung from a long branch or two trees, are light, let the breeze through... (the hammock was first introduced to europeans during columbus' first voyage of 1492). the spanish word for the chaise-lounge is 'tumbona'. it is used only since modern times. the divan had a different evolution line compared with the greek kline. the term originates in the persian word devan, what has diverse meanings, but the general sense is how in the greek word 'symposion' the idea of meeting: the diwan was a room with cushion around it, when the sultan council and his court deliberates about the state business. (from turk. divan, from arabic diwan) the divan actually are pillows disposed in the floor. this element of resting made of one or various cushions distributed along the wall, originates in turkey around the VIII century. wealthy arabs sometimes slept on elaborate tent-like beds, but most people in the mideast slumbered on simple piles of rugs. rugs and textiles are the the major cultural exports from this region; items conducive to mobility and a nomadic life style. who would ever think a day bed a clever thing to tie to a camel? |
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