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Open the doors, slide the clothes neatly hung on the hangers, choose one and close. Convenient, isn't it? Not so convenient before the Renaissance, when clothes were stored in wedding chests or decorated chests. Changing clothes was a luxury for nobles families who owned two or more gowns, but not everyone had these means and therefore wardrobes were not a commonly used piece of furniture. Or more precisely , furniture with shapes that today we would attribute to the wardrobe did exist in home settings , but it was intended for storing food or objects and, in churches, the Eucharist.
During the 16th century, wealthier families’ clothes were stored in dedicated rooms furnished with solid wood furniture These items did not yet have the classic rod on which to hang hangers, however they can be considered the ancestors of wardrobes. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Baroque suggestions began to appear in the furnishings of noble families:e richly carved doors, or decorated with precious inlays of mother-of-pearl or exotic woods made their appearance. In most homes, on the other hand, the wardrobes were simpler, mainly in the Capuchin style with dark woods, in solid walnut, with a strong presence and a rustic appearance.
Even during the 19th century, the wardrobe for middle-class families was predominantly a linear and compact piece of furniture, functional and solid.Whilet in wealthier families, romantic inspirations were becoming evident, leading to a revival of the medieval and gothic style. That’s why today we have many wardrobes that look antique but are actually 19th century. Also in the 19th century, oriental-inspired furniture with ebonised woods and lacquered surfaces began to become more common.
It was during the 20th century that the wardrobe really took off, transforming itself decade after decade following fashions and suggestions: at the beginning of the century we can find Art Nouveau armoires with soft and organic shapes, and at the same time Déco wardrobes, with a geometric and compact look. From the 1960s cabinet makers started experimenting with shapes, colors and materials, until the wardrobe became not only a space to organise clothes but a proper room, in a modern reworking of the 500esque concept of "wardrobe". Armoires or closets is now a space that can be increasingly customized according to needs, in which to insert not only outfitsbut also chests of drawers, vanities and elegant dressing tables.
Whether antique or modern, the wardrobe is now an indispensable element in our homes: it can fit harmoniously into the decor or create contrasts and breakpoints to liven up the environment (in this case, the pop art style can come to our aid), browse the intOndo catalog and be inspired!
