The origin of clothes hangers
The wire clothes drying racks we use today were inspired by the 1869 patent for clothes hooks designed by O. A. of Northern England, Connecticut, USA. Albert J. Parkhouse, an employee of the Tinsel and New Gizmo Company in Timberlake, invented the clothes drying rack in 1903 after employees complained that there were too few clothes hooks. He folded a length of wire into two opposing ovals and folded the end of the wire into a hook shape. Parkhouse applied for a patent for this, but it's unclear whether he made a profit from it. Schuyler C. Hulett patented an improved clothes drying rack in 1932. He put hoses on the upper and lower parts of the hanger to prevent freshly washed clothes from getting wrinkled by the hanger. Three years later, Elmer D Rogers invented the lampshade we still use today. A worker named Albert Parkhouse invented it in a rage. At that time, he was making lampshades for a wire and small handicraft company in Michigan, USA. A blacksmith. One day he angrily discovered that all the coat hooks in the cloakroom of the factory were occupied. He angrily took out a piece of lead wire, bent it into the shape of a coat shoulder and added a hook to it. This invention was taken by his boss as his own. And obtained a patent. This is the origin of the clothes hanger. A clothes drying rack with a hose on the lower end beam.
The history of clothes hangers in China
The clothes hanger is an early type of furniture that appeared in my country. The Zhou Dynasty began to implement etiquette, and the aristocracy attached great importance to clothes. In order to meet this need, Racks specially used for hanging clothes appeared earlier. Clothes hangers in various dynasties have different forms and names. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the horizontal wooden poles used to hang clothes were called "trusses" and also called "wooden poles".
The Chinese have a long history of design, and many craft designs were first discovered in China. Clothes hangers are one of them. Clothes hangers are a furniture category that appeared earlier than tables, chairs, and beds.
Because China has advocated etiquette since ancient times, especially Zhou Chao who advocated etiquette and music, the aristocracy is very important to clothing. The earliest clothes hangers were used for hanging clothes, which were very different from the modern "hangers". The book "Research on Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties" written by Wang Shixiang teaches that hangers are used to put clothes on, not to hang them. The traditional wardrobes and images used for clothing storage use a folding method to store clothing, which is prone to wrinkles, affects the appearance, and is not random enough. Hanging clothes are not as easy to wrinkle as folded clothes, and they are easy to take, so you can keep the appearance neat and beautiful at any time.
Since then, the development of hangers has been closely related to "etiquette" and is mainly used to hang men's official uniforms. According to the pictures of the Qing Dynasty, there are strict and complicated regulations on clothes and crowns. Therefore, the officialdom of the Ming and Qing Dynasties is highly hierarchical. Everyone sits upright and looks dignified. The clothes and crowns represent their official rank and authority, which no one dares to underestimate. In ancient times, there were also burial mounds for famous generals and martyrs. custom.
Coats hangers originated from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period, and come in two types: straight column type and horizontal rack type. The straight column type uses an upright wooden pole to hang clothes, called "楎"; the wooden pegs nailed to the wall are used to hang clothes, also called "楎". The horizontal wooden pole used to hang clothes is called "string" or "椸". "Erya Shiqi": "The pole is called 椸." Shu said: "Anyone who uses a pole as a clothes hanger is called '椸'. These names have been used until the Tang Dynasty.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Clothes racks are also called "gantry racks" or "court clothes racks" and are mainly used to hang men's official uniforms. Therefore, the main beams of all the clothes racks are like two double dragons with their heads raised, lying there proudly, symbolizing a prosperous official career. Such as "Fu", "Lu", "Shou" and various decorative flowers further emphasize their values, and the term "court clothes rack" also adds some institutional characteristics to the furniture category of clothes racks.
Characteristics of clothes hangers in various periods of China
The clothes hangers of ancient times were mostly in the form of horizontal bars, with columns on both sides, supporting wooden pier bases above and below, and horizontal boards or bars between the two seats. , a cross beam is installed on the top of the column, and columns grow out from both ends. The ends are carved with dragon and phoenix patterns, ganoderma lucidum, or cloud heads. There is a Zhong brand under the cross bar, and there are openwork decorations on it, which mainly play a firm role.
After taking off the clothes, put them on the crossbar.
Song Dynasty: In the Song Dynasty, the use of clothes hangers was more common than in previous generations, and there is vivid information. The clothes hanger in the dressing picture of the Song Dynasty tomb mural in Yu County, Henan Province, has two columns supporting a horizontal bar. , columns grow from both ends of the horizontal bar, the two ends are slightly upward, and made into a flower shape. Two horizontal wooden piers are used at the lower part to stabilize the columns, and an additional horizontal beam is added between the two columns at the lower part of the upper horizontal bar for reinforcement.
Ming Dynasty: The overall shape of clothes hangers in the Ming Dynasty still maintained the traditional model, but the materials, production, and decoration were particularly refined. The lower end of the clothes hanger is made of two wooden blocks, with relief patterns on the inside and outside, an upright column, and two carved curly grass flower stands at the front and back. The upper and lower parts of the stand are connected to the columns and piers with wedges. The two piers are installed with a grid made of small pieces of wood. Because the grid has a certain width, shoes and other items can be placed. The lower side of the joint between each windfall and the column is supported by open-carved crutches and patterns. Clothes hangers reached a high artistic level in the Ming Dynasty from material selection, design, carving and production.
Qing Dynasty: The Qing Dynasty implemented the "change of clothing" policy and promoted the wearing of Manchu clothing. The Manchu people were strong and tall, and the clothes they wore were large and heavy. The clothes worn by wealthy and prestigious people were made of silk and satin piled with flowers and embroidered phoenixes. Therefore, the prosperity, dignity, and hugeness of the Qing Dynasty's clothes hangers are the characteristics of this period, and they are also what distinguish them from other eras. Therefore, the clothes racks in the Qing Dynasty were tall and tall. There were horizontal bars on the upright pillars, and the two ends were protruding and carved with patterns. The clothes and robes were placed on the horizontal bars, which was called a gantry rack.
The clothes hangers of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are elegant in shape, exquisitely decorated, meticulously carved, and brightly painted. Officials in the Ming and Qing Dynasties wore black gauze and red tassel hats, and wore plate-collared horseshoe-sleeved robes with patches on the front and back. Therefore, the clothes racks in the Qing Dynasty were tall, and there were horizontal bars on the standing pillars, with two ends protruding and carved with decorative patterns. There are upright columns on the pier, and two carved curly grass and flower stands at the front and back. The upper and lower parts of the stand are connected to the columns and piers with wedges respectively, and a grid made of small pieces of wood is installed at both ends. Because the grid has a certain width, shoes and other items can be placed. The lower side of the joint between each windfall and the column is supported by open-carved crutches and patterns.
Summary
The ancient clothes hangers have undergone new evolution and development in modern times. The combination of traditional styles and modern practical functions has produced new household products with a unique charm. .
In short, the function of the ancient clothes hanger is equivalent to the common coat rack in modern homes. It integrates functionality and decoration and is an indispensable part of ancient and modern homes.