A Brief History of Desks- By: Annie Deakin

Description : The desk is a peice of furniture that is normally used as a space in which to work. Usually an individual would sit behind the desk and do his or her work. Things can be stored in the desk to help this process. Desks are normally made of plastic, wood or metal. Many homes have desks in each room.

There has always been the need for furniture. The remains of furniture have been discovered on archeological digs across the world. The Egyptians left pictures of chairs and tables on the walls of their tombs. The ancient Greeks wrote all the time about their furniture. Likewise, the Romans spent massive amounts on the ornamental items that their homes were littered with.

The cultural pinnacle of furniture was arguably the eighteenth century. By this time artisans were allowed to have free reign in designing their own furniture. This resulted in them becoming exceedingly wealthy. Many used their new wealth to set up their own workshops. This had the effect of improving creativity even more. Many objects from this period are chased after by antiques collectors.

Furniture was normally made out of the materials that were readily available. Wood is an early example, which was used for its versatility. Using stone was not unheard of. The Romans used to use marble and granite to build tables and plinths. Using metal was much rarer, as it would not have been very cost effective in the ancient world. An exception to this would have been gold, which has been used for decoration for centuries.

Furniture would eventually be followed by appliances. There is a simple difference between the two. Furniture can be defined as something which makes life more comfortable. Appliances are something that make a job easier or make life more entertaining. Early appliances included eating utensils and more basic cooking facilities. Household appliances now include dish washers, washing machines, televisions, refrigerators, radios and microwave ovens.

Electronic gadgets, such as televisions and radios became more common in the twentieth century. Rampant consumerism has led to appliances becoming more of a way of life, rather than simply being functional items. What lingers is the desire for status symbols. It seems that there will always be a desire for things that set us appart from others.

The personal computer is a much more recent development in home life. The personal computer appeared in the 1980s, and it has already had a massive impact on home life. The personal computer has in itself expanded to include printers, modems and the web cam. All of this allows the owner to communicate with almost anyone in the world almost instantaneously. Almost every home in the world now has a computer. It is becoming the essential tool of this new millennium.

Here is a short list of some examples of furniture and appliances. Chairs, tables, cabinets, desks, shelves, wardrobes, fire places, telephones. Televisions, freezers, refrigerators, microwaves, kettles, toasters, coffee machines. Sofas, power drills, computers, fax machines, printers, dish washers, washing machines, shoe horns, tumble dryers, blenders, sandwich toasters, radios, ect.

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Author Resource : Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer.