A Quick Look at the History of the Recliner

Recliners: The Favorite Chair of Sitcom (and real) Dads

From the infamous yellow chair of Archie Bunker to the prized possession of Murray Goldberg, there are several tv shows where the father in the show has his favorite spot. For Archie, he would sit in it and make comments about how the world was changing around him. Good ole Murray had an entire episode dedicated to his favorite recliner had been replaced and the search was on to find it and bring it back home. I could go on at length and talk about all the famous chairs in movies and television, but I'd like to talk about how the recliner came to be.

Recliners of the Past

It's no secret that people have spent a significant amount of time devising ways to sit comfortably. While there is only a slight amount in common with the modern-day recliner, a lot of people consider daybeds to be the forerunners of the reclinable furniture. If you are wondering what those look like, imagine the depictions of the Greek and Egyptian royalty laying on what looks like, here is a picture of a more recent one. The Greeks called these items of furniture "Klines". This might have been the start of some major advances in the easy chair across the centuries.

The first people to patent the reclinable chair or the "easy chair" was Edwin J. Shoemaker and Edward M. Knabusch in 1929. These two men went on to create the La-Z-Boy company and set in motion the testing and design modifications that would bring us the modern day comfort we enjoy. 

However, they weren't the ones to invent the reclining chair. Several chairs were made in the 19th century for dentists to use that had adjustable backs. These types of chairs were not marketed as actual furniture, though. Also, the Morris Chair (invented in 1883 by William Watt) used a system of rods and pegs to achieve an adjustable reclining position for people using the chair. 

And so it is that we really can't pinpoint one person who brought about this gift to mankind. The recliner is a modern marvel of rest and relaxation that spans eons. Luckily, we live in this day in age where things just seem to get better and better.

Recliners for sale in Clovis, NM

Luckily, recliners and other home furnishings are relatively easy to come by. For less than the price of most 50-inch 4k flat screens, you can sit in comfort and style while you watch your favorite show. If you need a new recliner or other items of furniture for your home, The House of Furniture in Clovis, NM is a great place to find quality items at prices that won't bring your budget to its knees. If you live in or around the area, we invite you to come and take a look at what we have to offer you! We are located at 108 West 14th!