The First Venetian Blinds?
Early Venetian Blinds were utilised in a number of countries such as Egypt and Asia, these were very simple types of blind that utilised natural materials such as reed or bamboo. They could readily be made and were often changed each year due to the abundance of the natural material used.

China

The Chinese used to utilise bamboo and then paint, stain or dye elaborate patterns for decoration, in later centuries the most likily origin of the Venetian blind was Persia, it was here that the ever busy Venetian traders discovered this type of blind and quickly took the style to Paris and Venice where they became popular as a way of dressing windows.

United States

In the United States Venetian blinds were soon established after an Englishman – John Webster introduced them to society and the ever present high society took to them avidly, important government buildings and large public offices adopted the Venetian blinds too.

Modern Venetian Blinds

The modern day Venetian blind has a variety of mechanisms to adjust the slats and even this concept was around as early as 1841.

These blinds are now available in an astonishing array of designs, colours and materials and are ever popular with all kinds of people and especially in the commercial world of the office – all from the humble beginnings centuries ago.

Window blinds are synonymous with modern, fresh and clear-cut decor, and are increasingly popular with those who like a minimalist look. What many people don’t realise is that blinds have in fact been around three thousand years, and have in the time graced opulent halls, houses, palaces and places of business.

The earliest record of blinds being used as a window covering comes in the form of drawings in the tombs in ancient Egypt, where scenes depict roller blinds made from reeds. The most popular type of blind to be recorded however is the Venetian blind, a window covering traditionally made from horizontal slats of wood, and more recently from metal and plastic. Records show that in the 18th Century the design was patented in England, but the elegant blind was already well known throughout Europe.

Despite being well known in Europe, it wasn’t until the late 19^th Century that Venetian blinds were widely accepted as an alternative to curtains, and the places that accepted them with gusto were office buildings. With a minimal look and a design that made them functional and efficient for cutting out light and letting in air, the Venetian blind was perfect for the job.

In the 1930s, the Rockerfeller centre in New York was a prestigious office complex that adopted window blinds into its interior decor; but the largest order that was ever placed for blinds was to a Venetian Blind company in Burlington, Vermont, USA which supplied blinds for the Empire State Building in New York. Venetian blinds can now be found in homes, offices, schools and hospitals the world over, and they have even made their way into motor vehicles.

From distant shores long ago, the humble window blind has come to find a place in modern interior design, and we are sure that it will continue to impress with a perfect balance of form and function.