No longer imagine a comfortable sleep without a comfortable pillow. Centuries ago, only rich people could enjoy the privilege of buying a pillow, and the poor did not even know about such a luxury. The history of the pillow (briefly) will be told to the reader in the article. We will talk about classic products, decorative, sofa and toy pillows. So let's get started.
History of the pillow
The very first information about the appearance of the pillow refers to the reign of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Although the pillows did not resemble modern ones, their function was performed by wooden planks on a stand. To protect the pharaoh from dark forces, gods were depicted on them so that the ruler could rest calmly after daytime worries. In Japan, pillows made of wood, metal, stone or porcelain were used throughout until the 19th century.
The history of the creation of the pillow told that in the territory of Ancient Greece they came up with the idea of sewing the first soft products in order to have long philosophical conversations in a luxurious setting. Pillows and mattresses served to provide a comfortablepastime of noble citizens. They judged the high status of the patrician, and the richness of the decoration emphasized his financial capabilities. They sewed pillows from fabric or leather, gave a variety of shapes. Feathers or fluff of birds, as well as animal hair were used as a filler.
In ancient Rome, pillows did not soon come into use. Gradually, products filled with down gained unprecedented popularity among the Romans. The military commanders enjoyed sleeping on them so much that they sent subordinates to get goose down for pillows.
Magical properties of pillows
The history of the pillow is also interesting because since ancient times it was believed that this product has magical powers. For sound sleep, the emperor Nero put a bracelet made of snake skin under the pillow. Octavian August could not sleep for a long time at night, so he wanted to get a pillow from one ruined patrician. The emperor believed that, in addition to the pillow, he would ensure a calm and sweet sleep, because a person in deep debt could fall asleep on it in an incredible way.
During the Middle Ages, they began to sew small pillows under their feet to keep warm in the cold season. Such an invention saved from frost in stone castles, where fireplaces could not heat the huge vaults, and drafts were common. Also then, people were extremely religious, and not everyone can spend several hours on their knees while praying. Therefore, for convenience, pillows were used to withstand night vigils.
In Russia, fortune-telling is associated with pillowsbetrothed, when a twig from a broom was placed under it so that the future groom would dream. At Christmas, a spruce branch was to be hidden in the pillow to ensure happiness and he alth for the whole year. Richly embroidered pillows were always given to the girl as a dowry. The poor stuffed products with horsehair or hay, while the rich gave their daughters feather and down pillows made of expensive cloth as a dowry.
Decorative pillows - beauty from time immemorial
The history of decorative pillows tells that they first appeared in the dwellings of aristocrats and mansions of Arab sultans. Numerous eye-catching silk items adorned with silver or gold embroidery were scattered in a chaotic manner on lush oriental sofas and armchairs. They sewed pillows of various shapes and sizes, and the more there were, the more generous and rich the palace of the ruler was considered. The chaste Muslims also had a fondness for decorating the interior of the house, where the pillows embroidered with jewels stood out against the general background of luxury and splendor.
How did sofa cushions
The history of the sofa cushion tells that in Russia the first sofa options were called "dumka". Zealous housewives decorated their rooms with them, which was considered a sign of the good taste of the owners. Later, from "dumok" they turned into sofa cushions. Living rooms, boudoirs, studies were furnished with sofas, couches, canapes and similar furniture, which gave rise to an abundance of various pillows. They began to accompany people when writing love letters or in times of languid reflections on futility.being.
In the 19th century, the Biedermeier style developed, suggesting cozy cramped rooms, so sofa cushions became even more popular in the interior of living rooms. Furniture upholstery and pillow cases were sewn from the same material in order to achieve a single composition. For the manufacture of day pillows, they used rep, silk, velvet, embroidered patterns with satin stitch, richelieu, or decorated with bright appliqués. A little later they began to embroider pillowcases with a cross: simple or “Bulgarian”. Pillows, decorated with elaborate embroidery, have become a necessary part of the interior of living rooms. They were given to each other, shared sketches of embroidery, purchased in fashion stores.
Strict and concise 60s
The 1960s came, a strict laconic style reigned everywhere, and the presence of "dumok" was not welcomed, it was even considered a sign of philistinism. But on the sofas there were pillows without unnecessary decorations, sewn from less expensive and catchy materials. For some time they were in the shade to meet the heyday in the modern world. "Dumki" are back in fashion, decorating living rooms and offices. Thanks to them, that laid-back charm of aristocracy and subtle luxury is created, that warmth of the interior, which is unlikely to be achieved in other ways. To sew such a “zest”, you don’t need to spend money on expensive materials and decorations, just a little patience and some embroidery skills.
Story of pillow toy
Together with the appearance of “dumok” pillows, toy pillows arose. Craftswomen startedsew them from scraps of fabric, decorate with funny appliqués. Now it was not difficult to put the baby to sleep, the prankster fell asleep with pleasure with a funny pillow that looked like a dog or a cat. Such pillows make not only children but also adults smile.
Funny pillows play a special role in the house, they create coziness and are able to emphasize the creative abilities of the owners. Funny soft toys will relieve stress after a working day, give peace and bliss. Pillows-toys, sewn in the form of funny tigers, kittens, frogs, cows, can be laid out in your favorite resting places - on a sofa, armchair or bed. Also, a funny pillow will turn into a heartfelt gift for loved ones, especially if you try to sew it yourself from improvised materials. No one else will have such a present, because it is made with pure intentions and contains the warmth of the giver's hands. Currently, you can find funny pillows on sale, inside of which a plush blanket or a small plaid is placed. They will help out on a long journey by car. On the road, the baby will be able to play with such a soft toy, and when he wants to take a nap, he will wrap himself in a blanket.
Pillow Benefit Research
The history of the pillow contains some unpleasant moments. For example, in the 19th century, Otto Steiner added a bit of negativity to the product's reputation. A well-known physician conducted research, and highlighted the results in the book "Bed". If the humidity of the air rises even a little, the feather pillow begins to smell unpleasant. Steiner suggestedwhat is happening because of the remains on the feathers of particles of skin, fat and meat of birds. All this content begins to decompose and release harmful and horribly smelling substances.
Researchers have proven that feather pillows have dozens of species of parasitic microorganisms. Therefore, allergy sufferers and asthmatics should not sleep on such pillows, so as not to provoke an attack. To avoid trouble, you must follow the rules: ventilate and dry the pillow in the sun, at least once a year change it to a new one. In Europe, they tried to avoid the problem by filling the pillows with goose down, and the material was also amenable to additional processing. Although the necessary sanitary standards were not achieved.
Modern trends
Everyone knows that a pillow gets heavier over time. Even with automatic plucking of bird feathers, it is not possible to fully clean the feather from tiny pieces of tissue that mites feed on. One centimeter of feathers can hold over 200 dust mites. They tried to solve the problem with foam pillows, but they also saw shortcomings here. In the 20th century, scientists synthesized artificial fiber. This pillow can be easily washed and dried, it does not lose its original shape. Parasites and dangerous microorganisms do not settle in the product.
Different styles and trends in fashion changed each other, the functions assigned to pillows changed. One thing is invariable - thanks to the pillows, comfort and coziness of home decoration are provided. Sofa cushions, as well as products in the form offunny little animals for the little ones.
