CULTURE OF SLEEPING THROUGH THE AGES

Mehmet Ünal Ercan 20080003014

Sleeping has been one of our primary needs even before the first age, despite humans
evolving for millions of years, we still need to sleep for a good portion of the day to function.
Different cultures have different habits of sleeping and all of them design different solutions
for this matter, wether it’s a different type of surface,material or height, it still they all have
their functions and dysfunctions.
As the time passes by and human civilizations improve faster with the technological
inventions, so do the human living standarts improve therefore, sleeping surfaces improve
and become more comfortable by time. As the time passes, due to technological and
transportational advancements the furniture design becomes more various due to easier
accessibility to different design methods and materials. This not only affects the sleeping
surfaces but, architecture and design as a whole. In this report i will analyse sleeping
surfaces on several cultures and timelines and break down how its varies through the ages.

PREHISTORY
Prehistoric records mostly show us that before buildings, humans took refuge in; caverns,
treetops or lay in grounds surrounding a bonfire that kept them safe from the wildlife.
However, a research which was made in a cave in South Africa by (Wyn Wadley) might
contain early proof of human development in sleeping surfaces, or simply beds. The study
shows how people 200,000 years ago assembled grass and ash to form surfaces that are
identical to carpets to push insects further away them while they were sleeping. The usage
of ash is also an implication that they learned how to start and control fire. (Gammon, 2020)
(Inside Science)

EGYPT
Before moving on to the furniture, Egyptians slept on floors and blocks of stone because of
their lack of materials due to the geography they lived in. And because of this depravity of
necessary materials, only the wealthier portion of the population got to use beds, These bed
were made with minimal usage of wood and textile because of the rarity of the materials.
The making of this bed is followed by this process; The mattress was held in place by cords
that were strung between the bed's horizontal members. The bed occasionally had curved
edges, and occasionally it even had downhill slopes, with a footboard to prevent the sleeper
from rolling out.
Even so, the Egyptian bed is at least passably recognizable as such. What’s really unusual.
The pillow, which is actually not a cushion at all but rather a type of prop for the head, is
what's particularly peculiar about the Egyptian style of sleeping. They may have been
utilized by the Egyptians to preserve their renownedly ornate hairstyles, according to
historians. (Similar headrests have been used for millennia and are still in use in various
parts of Africa.) These headrests may seem surprisingly uncomfortable to someone used to
sleeping on cushions, but it's possible that the Egyptians were simply accustomed to them.
As bizarre as it may seem, it's also vital to keep in mind that, while imagining how our
ancestors would have slept, they simply did not think of personal comfort in the same way
that we do. The ornamentation in these furnitures were also limited because of their scale.
The most elaborately ornamented area of the bed was the footboard, which featured
customary decorative elements. The head was raised by curved side rails with rectangular
cross sections, and the footboard was separated into three ornamental panels. bed surface
is made of woven fabric. The side rails and the back stiles are strengthened by brackets.
(CAROLYN MCDOWALL AUGUST 10, 2013)

The additional headboard The Egyptian bed

GREEK
There weren’t many historical records on greek furniture because they weren’t stored and
there are only a few examples of them. One of the known sleeping surfaces were known as
kline, it was a multifunctional furniture that be used as an either bed or a couch during
meals since Greeks had the habit of eating laying down. In contrast to Egyptian furniture,
the Greek couch contained a headboard; the separate head rest has been removed. Head-
and footboards (fulcra) were occasionally extremely decorated, some with description of
mythological beings, or animal figures such as mules and different repeating motifs.

Kline

ROMAN
Romans furniture aesthetic is relatively identical to Egyptians, The lectus was a wooden
frame with crisscrossed leather straps that carried a mattress that was initially stuffed with
straw and later with wool or feathers. It was used for sleeping, sitting, relaxing, or eating. As
with contemporary couches, there was an arm at one end; occasionally, there was an arm at
either end as well as a back. Romans most likely modified the standard shape of the antique
sofa by adding the back. It was supplied with a coverlet, pillows, and cushions. It also
featured a headboard. The legs were frequently lavishly embellished with tortoiseshell,
ivory, or precious metals inlays or plating. Mention is made even of frames of solid silver.
The coverings were often made of the finest fabrics, dyed in the most brilliant colors, and
worked with figures of gold. Primarily used for relaxing and socializing in the living areas, the
lectus also formed the basis of Roman style bedroom furniture. (Gift of J. Pierpont
Morgan, 1917)

Lectus
MIDDLE AGES
Even the very affluent slept on beds constructed of rough-hewn wood during the Middle
Ages because many of the finer details of furniture manufacture had been forgotten. As
they did for the most of history, the less fortunate people continued to sleep on the floor.
Everybody else, from the highest ranked hanger-on to the lowest servant, would sleep on
the floor of the great hall at the big manor houses where many people lived, which normally
had only one bedroom for the lord of the manor and his lady. Conveniently, the sleepers
used straw or rushes that were typically spread across the floor to stuff their sheets, or,
more accurately, they figuratively "made their bed." Very few people had the good fortune
to put their mattresses on top of chests, tables, or benches in adjacent alcoves, lifting them
off the floor and away from drafts (and smells). Beds didn't become typical for the common
person in Europe until the 14th and 15th centuries, with the advent of the middle class.
Even yet, beds were pricey pieces of furniture and frequently included as bequests in wills.
They were typically furnished with curtains to keep the sleeper warm during chilly winter
evenings in inadequately heated dwellings. (Siobhan O'Shea, September 28, 2016)

Medieval Bed
ISLAM
Islamic Arhctitetuctre does not offer a unique solution to beds and furniture in general.
However this does no mean they didn’t focus on architecture at all. Islamic archtiects
studied methods of wood carving with extreme details, and incorporated other materials to
this craft, this also reflected on furnitures as well. But aside from that, in islamic regions
beds were similar to greek and roman design, elevated wooden structure furnished with
cushions. Considerable amount of people did not use beds at all, but slept on matresses and
cushions. (Mathew Parker, 2018) (Exploring Islamic interior design)

CHINESE
In Chinese Architecture, the largest and most important piece of furniture was the k'ang.
K’ang was used not just for sleeping, but also for resting during the day. The bed was the
most important piece of furniture in the home, and beds created for Chinese wedding
rituals were almost like little rooms, with canopies, curtains and even vestibules. It was
almost like a space within space. (Canopy bed.) (2021, December 28).

K’ang bed

JAPANESE
The Japanese Architecture was heavily focused on minimalism, this element reflected on the
furnitures as well. As sleeping areas are often futon, thin mattresses of cushioned cotton,
beds have a modest role in the traditional Japanese interior. When not in use, they are
rolled up and placed away. Pillows and quilted duvets are added accessories for the futon.
RENAISSANCE
ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
During the renaissance era, so many important things about humanity have changed
because it was a start of the “New Age”. These changes influenced the architecture as well.
It can be seen that the new lifestyles and classes were reflected on design. To satisfy
emerging appetites for luxury and aesthetic expression, artisans created artifacts of
increasing variety and refinement for the wealthy and powerful. Important people owned
specialized items including musical instruments, watches, scales, globes, and works of art in
addition to books, papers, paperwork, maps, jewels, changes of clothing, tablecloths, and
tableware. Spaces for storage and display were required for each of these goods. All of
these things started the transition to the increasingly congested "fully furnished" interiors of
the modern world as they were gradually brought into the essentially simple living spaces of
the Renaissance. Although there are fundemental common themes, each era has its
differences in design. Classical features include substantially scaled entablature and stop-
fluted columns perched on plinths. platforms, footboards, and headboards; tall headboards
frequently had a protruding cornice with a display-friendly horizontal surface. Evidence from
Italian Renaissance art suggests that benches or chests were occasionally positioned parallel
to the bed's three sides. ( Mr. and Mrs. Alan S. Hartman, 1968)

ENGLISH RENAISSANCE
After the middle of the sixteenth century, beds were huge and lavishly ornamented; by this
time, the medieval canopy of tester, which had been suspended from the ceiling, was
supported by posts at the foot and by the headboard. Tester supported by the headboard
and columns at the foot of the bed. Mattress frame attached to the headboard but free of
the columns. (February 25, 2011 by designergirlee)
BAROQUE
ITALIAN BAROQUE
Baroque era was mainly about ornamentation and wealth, it was an exclusive style only the
rich could afford to use. As a result it wasn’t common practice despite it’s well known place
in the history. Here are a few examples; (Miller, 2005)

The posts are spirally twisted below the finely carved finials. The arched sections of the
headboard are separated by fluted pilasters.

FRENCH BAROQUE

c. 1690. Decorative drapery in the style of Daniel Marot.

ENGLISH BAROQUE

William and Mary Bed, c. 1695. Textiles most important part in design of beds.

ROCOCO
FRENCH ROCOCO

Lit a la Turquie, Louis XV.

Bed that is parallel to the wall, with ends that are the same height and a cushion at each
while not in use.
Louis XVI's bed. George Jacob is credited in French (1739-1814). carved and gold-plated
wood The kinds of beds that were built in the Louis XV style were still made in the Louis XVI
style. The Louis XVI seat furniture was characterized by its legs and overall form. The
repertoire of themes that were typical of the time were used to create ornament. The
illuminated a colonizes bed was the most popular one (four-poster bed). The canopies were
shaped to match the shape of the specific style of bed, and headboards were positioned
against the wall.

(Lit a l'Anglaise) wooden carvings Guilloche, ribbons, flames, flowers, and leaves are all part
of the ornament. • A different kind of bed was created to fit in an alcove or niche; typically,
it had two or three enclosed sides.
ENGLISH ROCOCO

Bed with two sections. 1792. In the maker and upholsterer's drawing book, Thomas
Sheraton. suggestions for window treatments.

LATE FRENCH NEO CLASSİC

Directoire Bed. Late 18th century. The range of elements will be observed due to the
diversity that defined the Directoire era. Back styles included entirely upholstered ones,
some with the crest scrolling backward, and others with pierced backs that used a variety of
center treatments, many of which were inspired by classical decorative themes.
REFERENCE LIST
-NANCY MITCHELL, MAR 8, 2017 Five Thousand Years in Bed: A Brief History of Where We Sleep

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-brief-history-of-the-bed-240124

-Bed of Queen Hetepheres I (reproduction), MFA BOSTON, January 1, 1929

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/147125

- CAROLYN MCDOWALL AUGUST 10, 2013 GLASS A MAGIC MATERIAL – PT 1 PHOENECIA & THE
PORTLAND VASE

https://www.thecultureconcept.com/glass-a-magic-material-pt-1-phoenecia-the-portland-vase

- Couch and footstool with bone carvings and glass inlays, J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/249232

- Canopy bed. (2021, December 28). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canopy_bed

- Katharine Gammon, August 13, 2020, 200,000 Years Ago, Humans Created Beds of Grass and Ash
to Sleep

https://www.insidescience.org/news/200000-years-ago-humans-created-beds-grass-and-ash-sleep

- Siobhan O'Shea, September 28, 2016 What people did in bed – History of bed culture in Medieval
and Early Modern times

https://www.interesly.com/history-of-bed-in-medieval-and-early-modern-times/

Mathew Parker , 20 August 2022, Exploring Islamic interior design

https://s3da-design.com/exploring-islamic-interior-design/

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/more-furniture-collectibles/bedroom-furniture/beds-frames/
tester-four-poster-bed-oak-renaissance-style-carved-adam-eve-armorials-tapestry/id-f_21918392/

- English Renaissance Furniture

https://designergirlee.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/english-renaissance-furniture/

[email protected], 30TH JUNE 2022, Historic comfort: antique bed restoration

https://fineart-restoration.co.uk/news/historic-comfort-antique-bed-restoration/

- Définition du lit à la turque, https://www.meubliz.com/definition/lit-a-la-turque/