| A bench is a long piece of furniture for the sitting of several persons (indoors or on street) with a backrest not being compulsory for the bench; even the low support for feet is also called a bench.
A bench can be used for outdoor advertisement purposes.
In court, the dock is a place in the courtroom where the defendant sits.
The history of the bench:
Now-a-days, it's often you encounter such words as “bench” …. When did you last see a bench? And after all, it is one of the most ancient items of furniture.
The bench has become the proforma for the modern bed. Bedding is spread on it. The bench was used for a set of other auxiliary purposes in housekeeping, but, nevertheless, they were often decorated by numerous elements of decor and frequently were one of luxurious elements of interior furniture. Several years back, many African people decorated the benches with numerous carvings often not caring at all about the actual purpose of the furniture item.
The bench in Egypt:
The ancient custom to sit on the ground was found even in Egypt (sculptures, depicting the people in the pose are known). But nevertheless, it is possible to assert, that present furniture for sitting appeared for the first time in Egypt. In the beginning, Egyptians had low small benches and chairs, indicating that Egyptians, like Eastern nations, loved to squat. Egyptian benches had numerous shapes. Low legs were inserted into the seat frames and the seat surface looked like braiding from plants or belts.
The Greek bench:
Ancient Greeks had custom of having food in a lying position so they used a couch (wedge), which is somewhat in the middle between a bed and a sofa. During the days of Homer, food was eaten sitting down at the table and the couch was used only for a nap. In most cases, the couch was made on high supports and a bench was placed in front of it. Later, it acquired a headrest and pillows: the legs were not at all graceful. Straight, like columns or perfectly shaped, they were often decorated.
In Greece, furniture for sitting was sufficiently varied. Three basic forms are known to us: small benches, usual chairs and ceremonial (throne-shaped) chairs.
The Roman bench:
Simple, modest-shaped benches (scamnum) for daily use were widely used in the houses of ancient Romans. Even other bench forms are also known to us: benches with backrests and armrests, which were found in the atriums in rich people’s houses and meant for people coming from outside to sit down on and to wash-off dust from their feet. The third form of bench, the so called “bisellium” was a gala twin-seat bench without a backrest, which was always used by a single person as a mark of respect given to him.
The Assyrian bench:
Furniture for sitting played an important role in the houses of Assyrians. The simplest type of furniture for sitting was a bench or stool, identical according to design but with different decorations. The stool had a braided seat on which a decorative pillow was placed. Legs were made in the form of stone pine knobs, clusters from fruits or animal paws.
Benches in China:
The housing conditions of the medieval Chinese are a little monotonous and its forms are defined by thousand-year traditions, which even influenced the technique of furniture manufacturing. The shapes of furniture were dictated by strict norms of life. Chinese, contrary to other Asians, likes to eat sitting on a chair, take rest on a wide bench and liked to sleep not on the floor, as Japanese, but on a bed.
The European bench:
Benches occupy a special place in the interiors of premises in the Romance Period (900-1250) in Europe. Trunk-benches were sometimes used in churches. Benches which were put along the walls were the main furniture for sitting in the houses. Medieval benches were made of planks with backrest or without and also duplex benches which were made as chairs.
The Gothic bench:
Gothic furniture did not offer a variety of items for sitting and lying. Benches and chests held supremacy in the houses. Benches were available in different variants: with a bottom portion similar to a chest, with a high back, in most cases, they were put against a wall. Benches were also available which were put before a fireplace and had a turn-over plank back.
The Rococo bench:
During the epoch of magnificent rococo, benches certainly were one of the main objects of interiors; however, small benches were necessary furniture items even in those times in these houses which were used for sitting on the knees while praying.
The Russian bench:
It is interesting that, according to Russian customs, it was a mark of respect to sit on a couch which was at the wall rather than sitting on couch which was positioned from the exterior side of the table.
Historical styles replaced one another, becoming classical styles from history textbooks. Benches of classical furniture styles often were additional furniture for sitting and were made in same style as other furniture. |
