Thebesi ancient Egyptian furniture was beautifully made and elegantly proportioned, and it is not surprising that some of their designs were adopted for European furniture of the early nineteenth century (often with less success than their prototypes). By modern standards, however, Egyptian houses, particularly those of the poor, would have had little furniture. The most common items were beds, chairs, stools and boxes (which. served the purpose of the modern sideboard or wardrobe). Low tables were also used, two wooden examples being known from Tarkhan as earlv as the TstDynasiv(510()-289()B(;).
I arioas items of domestic faniiture: a box of cosmetics, linen, a bed, a headrest, a jar and a jar-stand. New Kingdom, v..L)00 ae from Thebes, n. ij' chest ()I an. (ici2470, 6S2(>, 6639. 13196, 24703}
The vast majoritv of the surviving furniture is made of wood, although at sites such as i. i -\l RA numerous limestone stools are found. Beds are recorded from the 1st Dynasty, and comprised a wooden frame, jointed at the corners, and upholstered with matting or leather. Chairs were used only by the most wealthy people, and could be very elaborate. I he length of the back support varied greatly, as did the standard of workmanship: the mt)si elaborate could have elegant lion’s paw feet and might be inlaid. Most chairs are of a simple tvpe with no arms, but throne-like versions are known, including the famous example from Tt r. WKH. tMt ’s tomb (k 62), which is gilded and inlaid.
Most people would have used low stools, and by the Middle Kingdom a folding stool had been developed. Some of these are finely crafted, as in the example from the tomb of Tutankhamun, the legs of which end in ducks heads, each grasping a rail in their hills. I'he Egvptians had a great facilitv for making such light or prefabricated furniture for use when travelling or on militarv expeditions. .As early as the 4th Dynasty a complete travelling bec.1-room set, including a tent and carrying chair.
Urn i lure :li as El e found, isty, and the cor-• leather, wealthy ¦te. The cath, as he most !)av feet )f a. sim-likc vcr-is exam-
Has survived among the funerary equipment of Queen iiktei’iikres, mother of kiilI'L (2589-2566 nc;). A series of poles and rails make up a frame which could be fitted inside a tent or room to add extra warmth or privacy, serving as a sort of portable boudoir.
The I’hcban tomb of the architect Kha (tt8) contains a representative range of New Kingdom furniture (now in the Museo Egizio,
Wooden c'hiiir. ISlh Dynasty, ii. 73 an. (ea2479)
Turin), including a toilet box, a chair and a stand for a pottery vessel.
C. Alore. i), ‘Fine woodwork’, .4 history of technology i. ed. C. Singer, E. J. Ilolmyard, and A. R. Hall (Oxford, 1954), 684-705.
E. W. vxsciiER, Scdla curiiHs, the folding stool: an ancient symhol of dignity fCopcnhagcn, 19804.
G. Kille., Egyptian furniture, 2 vols (Warminster, 198{)-94).
—, Egyptian inoodworknig andfurniture (Princes Risborough, 1994).
World History
