A history of curtains and a question of shutters
So many things in life we take for granted, such as the humble curtain, yet of course they’ve been unknown for most of history, rudimentary shutters being far cheaper, more durable and practical, and cloth far too expensive for all but essential use in clothing and bedding.
In Maureen Waller’s 1700: Scenes from London Life, I read that they were a common object of theft in her period, with thieves dislodging them with a grappling hook and dragging them out through the window – aiuded by the arrival in the 1670s of divided curtains – previously a single curtain had been pulled back to the side.
I’ve been pondering these particularly since I’ve been considering doing without them myself – not being a fan of such dust-collecting items, and having now windows not very suited to blinds. I’m considering internal shutters, but haven’t been able to find how good an insulators they are – presumably they’d be as good as heavy curtains? (These are for east-facing big windows in a flat in a brick structure with a big thermal mass.)
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I didn’t know that, thanks. Where I live there seems to be a fashion for not having curtains, but thats a bit public for me.
Insulating shutters sound very interesting.
http://www.engext.ksu.edu/henergy/envelope/windoors.asp#6
Comment by Adrian Windisch — November 14, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
When I lived in Italy we had some insubstantial lace curtains, then glass and then external shutters. Big green wooden ones.
I seem to recall that they were good in the summer because you could shut them, leave the windows open and the room would be cool.
I don’t remember what they were like in Winter.
I don’t like curtains. Since living in Korea I’ve gone off soft furnishings (except when buying throws to cover up icky university furniture)
Comment by Claire — November 18, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
My wife and I are often too disorganized to hang curtains. There are usually some kind of shades anyway, so we get by. In Germany, though, the lease often says you must have curtains. I remember one apartment building in Augsburg where the neighbors actually demanded that we use them. (And no, we weren’t putting on an inappropriate show for the whole world to see.) It seems that curtains are also there to spare your neighbors from having to stare at you.
Comment by Mark Stoneman — November 26, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
I am trying to find out very basis information on curtains – I have emaile dthe V&A and as yet have had no response. DOes anyone know
a) when curtains were first introduced to manor houses in the UK
Comment by Trudi-Lee Daughters — February 1, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
I like curtains. I like to eat curtains. I like to look at curtains when im bored. they are fun to look at
Comment by Reowrrr — May 14, 2009 @ 2:33 am