While you’ve been enjoying the comfort of your recliner chair, have you ever wondered about the origin of this brilliant invention?
Here is a brief history of recliners:
The first recliners in ancient Egypt
The first ever recliner can be traced back to Egypt when the gods and goddesses used them for their relaxation. Although these lift chairs have evolved over the years and may look nothing like the Egyptian recliners, the ancient chair does serve as inspiration for the modern day invention.
The dentist’s chair
The history of lift chairs can also be dated back to a dentist’s chair invented in 1790. The feature to move the back and head rest was used by dentists to allow better vision and reach inside the patient’s mouth.
Adaptation by the French
In 1850, reclining chairs became popular in France. They could be used as a chair, bed, or lounge chair. Reportedly, Napoleon III was also a fan of these chairs.
By the later part of the century, the design had been picked up by various carpenters making these chairs a common choice for most people.
La-Z-Boy
Lift chairs made their way to American hearts in 1920. They were introduced in the country by brothers, Edward Knabush and Edwin Shoemaker.
The current day company, La-Z-Boy was also founded in 1927, and has since then revolutionised the chair market.
With more and more visibility and commercial interest, recliners could be more easily purchased in the coming years. The chairs found a place in many homes and popular culture shows like All in the Family, Friends, etc.
To sum it up
Recliners have undoubtedly been one of the most comfortable pieces of furniture to have been invented. We hope you found this brief history of recliners interesting.
Take a moment to check our range of recliner parts. They are easy to fit yourself and can be shipped all over Australia.