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Author Topic:   Interior Design
Paula
Member
posted 12-09-2001 10:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paula   Click Here to Email Paula     Edit/Delete Message
I am studying interior design. One of my history assignments requires me to describe the changes to castle interiors from the Roman period to the modern day. Any information, such as useful sites, books etc would be welcomed. Many thanks.

Erik Schmidt
Senior Member
posted 12-10-2001 04:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Erik Schmidt   Click Here to Email Erik Schmidt     Edit/Delete Message
Paula, the person who set your history assignment doen't know their history, or should pay more attention to terminology.
Castles, in the correct sense of the term, began to appear well after the fall of the Roman empire, first in wood and then in stone around the 10th-12th century. Castles were no longer built after about the late 15th century, although some continued to be occupied until the present.
Romans built forts for garrisons of soldiers, not castles for the habitation and protection of its owner. I have not heard of decoration in Roman forts, but have never researched the topic either.
As for castle interiors, there is not very much information on the web, especially from the middle ages. Most of it refers to renaissance and after, the stuff that survived till today.
One thing is becoming clear, the inhabitants of castles were very fond of decoration, usually in the form of tapestries and painted walls. Unfortunately little survives. As for furniture, only a little survives from the middle ages.
I don't know of good sources with a lot of information on interiors, sorry.

Erik

Paula
Member
posted 12-10-2001 07:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Paula   Click Here to Email Paula     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks Erik. Actually the fault lies with me, not the person who set the assignment. The topic is actually much wider (covers public places and religious buildings too) and I therefore abbreviated the whole assignment without attention to the detail. Thanks for the info, Paula

Erik Schmidt
Senior Member
posted 12-11-2001 07:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Erik Schmidt   Click Here to Email Erik Schmidt     Edit/Delete Message
Churches in the middle ages were known to have been extensively painted inside and out and the pews are a fairly modern addition, no seats were provided for the general congregation in the MA.
Good luck with finding good reference sources. We'd love to know when you do.

Erik

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