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Tuesday, March 22, 2011


Gothic is both a theme and attitude that pervades society to this day. Gothic theme furniture is an example of this as is its continued popularity.

This is a theme that all of us have observed at the movie theaters. In those definitely scary movies where some ghost is haunting the old mansion where no 1 in their proper mind would ever spend the night, the furnishing are normally going to be a great example of Gothic Theme Furniture. The theme actually has a lengthy and storied history, and was not created in Hollywood as a set decoration for B grade horror movies.

The Gothic period began around 1150, and was the very first break from the classical themes of Rome and Greece that had been the benchmark for Western Culture for thousands of years. This time has been known as the middle Ages, and also the Dark Ages, and it was marked by a massive gap between the rich and the poor. Furniture for the poor was makeshift and functional, and furniture for the wealthy was classical. At this time, however, a exclusive and certainly non-classical theme was emerging. It began, as did numerous points at this time, in the Church. From the beginning, it consisted of heavily carved and ornately decorated motifs.

As the theme moved from the Church to the houses of an emerging middle class of merchants, and minor nobles, it retained significantly of the religious themes that marked the early Church connection. Other motifs had been heraldic symbols like griffins, lions, and hawks. Floral themes had been preferred and the royal Fleur-de-lis was also utilized typically. The name Gothic referred to the barbarians of the north, the Goths, and was very first applied to the theme as an uncomplimentary reference to its break from the classic themes of the past. Countless of the emerging middle class, specially the minor nobles, had been highly mobile in the course of this period. They had been forced to move from residence to house, and Castle to Castle, following their lord, or going to war. This led to the introduction of chests and cabinets that could be quickly loaded and transported. The armoire for clothes storage and the buffet for the storage of consuming utensils made their debuts throughout this period. Tables with drawers had been also introduced during this period.

Bedroom furniture consisted of sizeable four poster beds with elaborate backboards and posts. The carvings were usually of Gargoyles and other mythical creatures that served to scare away evil spirits, and were borrowed from the churches where the theme began. Other accessories associated with religious themes served as further decoration. These included stained glass windows, and ornate candelabras.

The theme gave way to the Renaissance period, and because of the enlightened thinking of the period, it fell into disfavor. It was the beginning of the idea of separating the religious and the secular, and Gothic was too religious for the taste of the emerging absolutely free thinking classes of the time. In 1840, in the United States and Outstanding Britain, the theme had a revival. It became common throughout the Victorian period, and a huge number of items had been produced that had been extremely identical to the original pieces. As in the past, oak was the most popular material utilized, although other woods were often utilized as well. Most of the antique pieces discovered currently date from this period as an original piece from the medieval period would be especially rare and useful. In addition to it popularity in those old films, the theme is having a bit of a second revival today with reproduction Gothic pieces becoming extra obtainable. They are utilized as accessories most sometimes, while some houses are becoming decorated in the theme complete with the gloomy light of stained glass windows. If it does nothing else, it will definitely please any stray ghosts that may be lingering about the residence.