Romanseque
Romanseque
Romanseque
ROMANESQUE
The Roman basilica, the building in which judicial, commercial, and governmental activities took place, became
the primary architectural model for christian churches in the early Middle Ages. Romanesque architecture is
based on Roman architectural elements. It is the rounded Roman arch that is the literal basis for structures
built in this style. Medieval Italian churches generally imitated its basic design.
Such building usually contained a center nave with colonnades along an aisle at each side and an apse at one end: on
this raised platform sat the bishop and priests.
Characteristics
1) Round Arches
2) Scrolling plants
3) The human form
4) Imaginary creatures
Romanesque Architecture
• Romanesque is inspired by Roman architecture style of medieval Europe characterized by semi- circular arches.
• Similarities between Roman and Romanesque include round arches, stone material’s, massive quality and the basilica – style plan
(used for secular purposes by the Romans).
• Influences that led to the Romanesque style are far more complex – Romanesque architecture also shows influences from visi
gothic. Carolingian, Byzantine and Islamic architecture.
• The Romanesque period cannot be precisely defined – but Romanesque architecture generally dates from 1000 to 1150.
• Romanesque was at its height between about 1075 and 1125.
ROMANESQUE FURNITURE
Chairs
Tables
Cupboards
Beds
CHAIRS
• Harmonious proportions.
• Stone barrel vault or groin vault.
• Thick and heavy walls.
• Small windows.
• Round arches supporting the roof.
• Round “blind arches” used extensively for decoration inside and out (especially exteriors).
• Nave with side aisles (though some modest churches are aisleless).
• Galleries above the side aisles, separated from the nave by a triforium.
• An apse (semicircular niche, usually in the east end).
• Multiple tower, usually at the west end and over the transept crossing.
• Sculptured decoration on portals, capitals and other surfaces (except in cistercian monasteries).
• Painted decoration throughout the interior (little of which survives today).
TABLES
Cubboards
• Cupboards &presses were either made as plain shelver or in form of planks without frame
work or panelling.
• The brilliant polychrome decoration was employed to hide the crude carpentry.
BEDS
• Beds had two forms one with turned members elaborately frame and another was based
On chest construction and both had curtains suspended from the rod around the bed.
GOTHIC STYLE
Gothic style began in france in 1150 and Islamic civilization was its main inspiration. Gothic is symbolized by tall slim ointed arches which
came from Islamic east. Tracery was another feature which sepped from architecture to furniture.
various kinds of wood were used depending upon availability. Oak was a chief timber where used such as
lime, apple and pear. Many types of stools were used . X –shaped stool of antique origin was common. More common was the three legs stools
with very short legs. In the 15th century a new type of stool called slab endeds stools emerged. It had a flat top of plank supported at both ends by
two planks. The Gothic style was based on the replacement of the rounded Romanesques arch with the innovative pointed arch.
MEDIEVAL INTERIORS
Much of the Gothic furniture has perished, we get to know about it mostly from the manuscript and paintings.
• Contrary to the common pereception of Gothic style as stuffy and dark, interiors and furniture of the period were remarkably light & colourful.
• In addition, many items of furniture were painted in bold hues, including primary colours and gold tones.
• Chests in particular were often painted.
• Furniture makers usually made do with native woods- oak in england and northern europe, pine & firs in the ALPS and fruit woods in the
Mediterranean.
• Surviving medieval furniture made from oak invariably looks very dark because of its acquired patina, but newly cut oak is much higher.
• Although relatively a few Ex- survive today, it is still poss.
• Gothic is symbolised by tall , slim, pointed arches which comes from the Islamic east.
• Tracery was another important features which seeped from architecture to furniture.
This following of architecture in the field of furniture gave it universal character.
• Specific design characteristics that appear in the furniture are gargoyles, flying, buttresses, and quatrefoil, & trefoil shapes.
• Heavy fabrics, and heavy woods are some other characteristics of this type of furniture.
• Believed to have originated in churches in the 13th century, Gothic furniture contains intricate carvings, decorative paintings, and elaborate
sculptures.
• Initially found in wealthy homes, the furniture evolved over time and features elaborated, lathedral- style ornamentation. Mirroring features in
Gothic architecture on a much smaller scale, the furniture was widely popular in the Middle Ages.
• Furniture pieces are mostly massive & sturdy with rich , dark colors.
CHAIRS
Thrones were seemed to be more common than simple chair. They did not more because they were heavy
among the simple chair the most common was the tub chair.
Gothic tables were of two types fixed and movable. The movable table were usually board tressless most
writing desk writing desk were boxes with sloping top to allow convenient writing.
BEDS
Many types of beds existed during the Gothic period. Some had simple box like construction other were
fixed trpes which had drapped testers hung from the ceiling.
CUPBOARDS