Kitty? A typewriter? Or maybe a whole baby elephant? Nowadays toy pillows for every taste. They are colorful, soft, beautiful, they will definitely become a favorite toy for children. Toy pillows are essential items for any child's room, which give it their own unique style and serve as a decoration.

The history of the pillow itself goes back centuries. Then they were small rectangular head rests, which, while sleeping, helped noble nobles, pharaohs and the rich to keep their hairstyles intact. In different countries, such coasters were made from different materials: stone, porcelain, metals, wood, and even precious stones. The use of such pillows was not a way to achieve certain comfort, but rather a necessity.

The ancient Greeks were the first to make soft pillows. They filled them with bird feathers, hay, and pet hair. Over the centuries, pillows began to be used while riding, put in carriages and even under the feet during prayer. And most importantly, they became available to all strata of society and differed only in the quality of the elements used. The most expensive pillows were decorated with unique patterns, precious stones and gold embroidery. They could be safely called objects of art and real masterpieces.

As a rule, such pillows are designed in the form of animals, cars and boats, or simply in the form of geometric shapes. For their manufacture, only the most modern, high-quality and environmentally friendly materials are used. Therefore, they are absolutely safe for children of any age. With these pillows you can play in bed and on the floor, sit or sleep on them. Children love to arrange pillow fights, jump and frolic in them, build barricades and entire fortresses out of them. Such pillows replace ordinary soft toys for children, help develop imagination and imagination, instill taste and sense of style. Soft friends are great for role-playing games. The child can come up with different stories and act out scenes with pillows.

Also these days, it is customary to pay special attention to comfort and health, which is why orthopedic pillows for children and adults have appeared. They help support the head and neck during sleep and maintain the correct body shape so that the spine can rest from stress. That is why orthopedic pillows-toys began to appear on the market, helping not only to avoid health problems for children, but also to take a place in their children's rooms as favorite toys.

By playing role-playing games with pillows, the personality of the baby develops, the development of his cognitive processes is activated, the foundations are laid for mastering new, more complex types of activity. While playing, kids reflect in the roles they are trying on, everything that they see around: events, adult behavior patterns, etc. Participation in a role-playing game allows you to feel like a part of a team.

In the 21st century, the assortment of pillow toys on the shelves of children's stores has become so wide that now you can choose a pillow for a child, based on his preferences and interests, the required shapes and sizes, with different fillings and coverings. Or even sew it to order. Nowadays, shops amaze with a variety of stuffed toys. It is impossible to count all the manufacturers involved in the production of pillow toys. Such companies include Craftholic, SmallToys, Plush Land, 1TOY, ABtoys and Plan Toys.

Today it is simply impossible to imagine life without a pillow. But in ancient times, everything was completely different. Exceptionally wealthy people had pillows. The very first pillows were found in the burials of the ancient Egyptians. Progress did not stand still, and with the advent of new dyes and the invention of all kinds of sewing techniques, pillows began to be an object of art. Richly decorated, pillows have become quite an expensive commodity, which appeared first in China, and then in the Middle Ages in Europe.

The very first pillows were invented in Egypt. They looked like curved planks on a stand and served more to preserve the hairstyle during sleep than for comfort. On the pillows were depicted gods who protected man from dark forces. Until the 19th century, such pillows were widely used in Japan. In China, pillows were made from porcelain, stone, or metal. They looked like rectangular supports.

For the first time soft pillows appeared in Greece. They were significantly different from the Egyptian ones. The Greeks loved bed and comfort, so the invention of a soft pillow became a cult for them. A little later, the first soft mattress was invented in Greece.

Later, pillows began to be used in ancient Rome, although at first the Romans reacted to them with distrust, but realizing the convenience of their use, they appreciated them.

There was a belief that a pillow during sleep is a kind of protection for its owner from evil spirits.

For example, in India, a pillow helped the great Buddha to recover. When he lay exhausted on the ground, barely alive, he felt the scent of leaves attacking from the tree to the ground. He grabbed them with his hands in a heap and stuffed them into a bag, so it turned out a pillow on which he fell asleep. Waking up, he felt vigor and strength to set off on a long journey.

Pillows have become very popular in the East. The palaces of the sultans were literally overflowing with rich and beautiful pillows. They were considered an indicator of wealth, wealth and luxury.

In Russia, painted beautiful pillows were an obligatory component of the bride's dowry.

The pillows had different fillings: down, feather, hay, horsehair.

It is believed that the average life of a pillow is 5 years. After, the feather in the pillow begins to deteriorate, the mites begin to multiply and feel comfortable. Therefore, it is better to buy a new pillow and refuse to use the old one.

Sheep wool and buckwheat husks are useful natural fillers for pillows.

Today it has become very fashionable to use orthopedic pillows for sleeping. They are mainly recommended for people suffering from curvature of the spine, musculoskeletal, lymphatic and circulatory systems. Also, the orthopedic pillow will be very good for people with allergies, as it is made from environmentally friendly latex.

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History of the origin of the pillow

Pillow- bedding in the form of a bag sewn on all sides, stuffed with soft material. Serves to support the head of a lying person, for the convenience of sitting on a sofa or for decorative purposes.

History of the origin of the pillow

No one knows who first decided to put some kind of pillow under his head, history is silent about this fact. Some of the first pillows were found in the ancient Egyptian pyramids and they served not for the convenience of sleeping, but in order not to spoil the hairdo in a dream. Pillows of that time were made of wood, stone, porcelain or metal. In Japan, they were used until the 19th century. For example, wooden pillow it was a concave plate on a stand, with the image of a deity protecting the sleeping person from dark forces. In China especially popular among the nobility won jade pillows... They were carved from a solid stone in the shape of a recumbent tiger, with a comfortable recess for the head. Soon, people rethought the purpose of the pillow, realizing that the comfort of sleep is more important than the safety of their hair. In ancient Greece, the habit of lying was elevated to a cult, appeared first soft pillows and. The Greeks brought this simple household item to a work of art, embroidering covers with magnificent patterns. Pillows were the privilege of the wealthy class, as they were quite expensive, but more than compensated for the costs, bringing healthy sleep.

The increasing complexity of the manufacture of dyes and sewing techniques has led to turning a pillow into a piece of art... Richly decorated pillows became an expensive commodity, first in China and later in Medieval Europe. Each pillow was handmade and was a truly unique piece of art. And in the modern world, the production of decorative fabrics and pillows has become a mass production. In Russia, embroidered pillows have always been part of the dowry. Somewhat later appeared decorative pillows... The poor stuffed pillows with hay and horsehair; down and feather pillows were considered luxury. In the old days in Russia, the number of pillows was strictly regulated. Each bride had to have at least six pillows in her dowry, four usual for herself and her future spouse, and two small dummies for beauty. Now everything is determined by expediency and personal preferences. But in any case, the bed looks more elegant if, in addition to the two main pillows, there are also several decorative pillows on it, combined or contrasting with the bedspread. Romans , those who captured the first pillows among the trophy were at first wary of them. However, they quickly appreciated the production at its true worth. They especially liked the pillows stuffed with goose down: the commanders began to send the most well-aimed shooters to shoot wild geese. Common people were content with pillows filled with animal hair, bird feathers, or grass. Covers for them were made of fabric or leather.

Sleep mysticism

Since sleep has always been associated with something mystical, our ancestors often put something significant under the pillow, all kinds of amulets. In some countries, men who dreamed of a son used to put an ax under their pillows while on the job. In England, in order to see a prophetic dream, on the eve of the summer solstice, they put a sprig of mistletoe under the pillow, and at Christmas, so that happiness would not be spared, they ate a sprig. A spruce twig was put on the night from Monday to Tuesday, and girls in Russia were wondering about their betrothed. Before falling asleep, they said: "I go to bed on Monday, put in a fir-tree, come in a dream, who thinks about me."

Industry without borders

As always, the Japanese distinguished themselves, they came up with pillows that meet the most extravagant requests.
For example, one arm headless male torso pillows... They were created especially for women who prefer to sleep on a man's shoulder. Men who love to snooze on women's knees will surely like a pillow in the shape of the corresponding female part of the body, covered with a skirt. For people who suffer from insomnia, it is proposed pillow giving advice on how to sleep better... It is made of soft urethane and equipped with a variety of sensors that assess the human condition. For sleepyheads who hardly wake up in the morning, created pillow wake up... At the right time, she begins to twitch: first a little, then more strongly, and then, if the owner continues to sleep, slightly shocks him.

Spied on a friend alinaveter a picture showing a very cool-looking pillow and suddenly thought that I hadn’t seen any materials about these products in LJ, without which it would have become much harder to live. :)

I found an article about the history of the pillow business, I found a bunch of pictures - pillows, pouches, rollers.
Different in form and content. Plump and flat. Square, oval, in the form of animals and some things ...


on Yandex.Photos

Pillow history

Although we cannot imagine life without a pillow, initially pillows were used only by wealthy people. The first pillows were found in the ancient Egyptian pyramids.

The pillows were invented by them in order not to spoil the intricate hairstyle in a dream. The pillow was then curved planks on a stand.

On the pillows, they began to depict gods who protected the sleeping person from dark forces, mystical plants, animals.

Until the 19th century, wooden pillows were common in Japan.

Traditionally, Chinese pillows were made of stone, porcelain, or metal. They were also solid rectangular supports. Some of the pillows were more artistic and were rather small sculptural figures depicting people, animals and household items.

In Africa, hard wood and stone pillows were also used.

The first soft pillows appeared in Greece. Here comfort was more appreciated, and Greek pillows have no connection with Egyptian pillows. The bed was a cult item for the Greeks, they spent most of the day on it. Therefore, it was in Greece that soft mattresses and pillows were invented.

The increasing complexity of dye-making and sewing techniques led to the transformation of pillows into an object of art, and richly decorated pillows became an expensive commodity.

In the 5th century BC, every wealthy Greek had a pillow. The sizes of the pillow were different. They were filled with animal hair, grass, down, and bird feathers. The cover was made of leather or fabric, it could be either rectangular or square.

In ancient Rome, at first, they were mistrustful of pillows. But soon the Romans appreciated pillows, especially down pillows. Geese down was used to make down pillows. Often, military commanders released their subordinates from military service and sent them to the extraction of down for pillows.

Then it was believed that pillows have a magical effect. Nero, for example, put his snakeskin bracelet under his pillow so that his sleep was stronger. Octavian Augustus wanted to get the pillow of a Roman patrician. He was mired in debt, and all his property was sold. Emperor Augustus ordered the debtors to purchase a pillow, according to him he wanted to own a pillow on which a person with so many debts slept peacefully.

There are a lot of interesting stories related to pillows. Here is some of them.

Indian pillows helped the great Buddha to restore health. Buddha weakened from hunger and self-torture, he was lying on the ground barely alive. And suddenly he caught the wonderful scent of the leaves of a tree growing nearby. Buddha got up from the ground, stuffed a bag with these leaves. This is how the pillow turned out, which the Buddha put under his head and fell asleep. After sleeping on a wonderful pillow, Buddha began to feel better, he had the strength to go further on the journey.

"Kamasutra" says that ordinary Indians also used pillows. This love treatise was compiled on the basis of knowledge accumulated over more than three thousand years. And some of the poses from the "Kamasutra" cannot be reproduced without a pillow.

In Arab countries, pillows were the most popular. The houses of the sultans were decorated with embroidered painted pillows with tassels and fringes. Richly embroidered and decorated pillows were a sign of the owner's wealth.

In the Middle Ages, they began to use special small pads under the feet, which protected the feet from the cold. The floors in the castles were stone; heating could not warm up large rooms during the frosty period. Therefore, foot pillows were popular in those days.
It was at that time that prayer pillows began to be used, they were placed under the knees during long prayers. Horse riding pillows were also common and cushioned saddles.

In some European countries, there was a funny custom. Married men put an ax under the pillow before going to bed. It was believed that if you say "Give birth to a boy" to your wife at night, a boy will be born.

An amazing fact, but in Russia the pillow appeared in wide use only in the twentieth century. And even at the very beginning, it was considered an expensive household item: poor people put even just clothes under their heads before going to bed.
During the Christmas holidays, fir branches were hidden in pillows, which brought happiness and helped fulfill desires. Many divinations are associated with pillows. For example, in order to find out the name of the betrothed, the girls put a twig from a broom under the pillows.
In Russia, embroidered pillows have always been part of the dowry. Somewhat later, decorative pillows appeared. The poor stuffed pillows with hay and horsehair; down and feather pillows were considered luxury.
And those who possessed pillows kept them and passed them on to children. The tradition of passing them on by inheritance remains today. And that is great. Maybe your grandmother once used your pillow too?
How nice it is to feel the connection of generations through an ordinary thing. Imagine how long it took your grandmother or mom to collect the fluff to the fluff for your pillow. It is truly worthy of love and respect.

Down comforters and pillows have been and remain an integral part of the cultural tradition of many peoples of the world.

And orange circles!))

The history of the cushion

This decorative cushion is a dream keeper, a girl's friend and a bright accent in the interior. You can cry into it, or you can hug it to your chest, like a native creature. She can be entrusted with the secrets of the heart, or she can be thrown to the floor in anger. She will endure everything. She's almost alive. Didn't you notice, even her very name is so consonant with the word "soul".

The history of the sofa cushion, which goes back many millennia, deserves special attention. Their homeland is considered the East or Ancient Greece, where their first similarity appeared. The first soft pillows originated in Greece. And it is not surprising, because the Greeks are recognized connoisseurs of comfort, for whom the bed was a cult attribute in the house.

In Lebanon, the reception area usually had a low sofa on which there were flat, bright and colorful pillows. The interior of a traditional Turkish home has always been characterized by a lack of furniture. They eat and sleep on the floor on mats, rugs and elongated pillows - minders.

One of the characteristic features of the old Russian house was a mountain of pillows of various sizes, which were so tall to the ceiling. This spoke both about the prosperity of the owners, and about the fact that they know how to rest comfortably. And, therefore, work.

Thus, the history of the sofa cushion provides food for the embodiment of bold, creative and unusual design ideas today. An intricate thought is a great way to spice up a boring interior. Scatter pillows with oriental patterns on the sofa and armchairs, and you will find yourself in the harem of the Turkish sultan, cover the annoying factory pillows with fabric of "brutal colors" like a giraffe or a leopard - and you are in the African savannah.