Living-Room-Accessories
Piano
A piano, in spite of its appearances and our perceptions, is actually a stringed instrument—which is why it harks back to ancient harps. One of the earliest harps was a psaltery, a box in which stretched strings were plucked with the fingers.
The psaltery was a direct predecessor to the harpsichord, a similarly plucked harp, which was the predecessor to the hammer dulcimer, from which the piano descended.
A rudimentary piano called a clavichord was developed in the 12th century. Outfitted with keys and tangents to strike strings inside the instrument, the clavichord employed the basic method our modern pianos do.
While the organ is considered to be the first keyboard instrument created in the 1400s, the piano, in terms of history, was not far behind, first appearing in the 1700s. Today we have grand, baby grand, and upright pianos in our repertoire
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Aquariums
In 1850, Englishman Robert Warrington built the first aquarium after theorizing that, with a combination of fish, plants, and snails, a small glass structure could contain a complete aquatic system.
Aquariums were honed, though, in the 1950s, and today, really are complete aquatic life cycles thanks to advances in filtration, water chemistry, and flake foods.
The idea of bright fish happily swimming against a gently bubbling backdrop of water sounds like an excellent home accent piece. The good news is first-time aquarium buyers would do well to think big because in the water world, bigger is easier to maintain.
Try a 20 to 30-gallon tank, a simple power filter, a water heater, and an air pump. Talk to your local pet store employees about how to set up your tank and what types of fish to put inside.
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Bird Cages
We know Egyptians kept birds as pets thanks to ancient hieroglyphic art, but we don't know exactly how birds were kept. History assumes early bird cages were probably made from rough weeds, rope or bamboo—and that might be true, as by the time birds were kept as pets in the American colonies, most cages were wooden or bamboo.
By the Victorian age, though, bird cages had transcended the realms of pet housing for interior aesthetics; ornate wire cages were an integral design aspect within the proper Victorian parlor.
Today, most bird cages are constructed with wire or wire-mesh, and they're used for both practical and ornamental purposes.
Keep in mind that most bird cages labeled as "decorative" are probably not the best houses for real birds. Cages intended for birds must have a lattice design with spaces small enough to keep birds inside but wide enough to prevent strangling.
Thinking about purchasing a bird cage? Then we recommend that you visit BirdCages.com and browse their great selection of
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Snow Globes
Adding to the inherent mystery of snow globes is their uncertain history; no one is exactly sure when or where the first snow globe was made, but they seem to have appeared in France in the early 1800s. By the turn of the 18th century, though, snow globes had everyone from Europe to America under their spell.
Early snow globes were constructed with lead glass over a ceramic base (including the figures in the scene), and the "snow" was produced by inserting bone or porcelain chips. Later snow globes feature thinner glass, lighter bases, and foil or soap flake "snow."
Today, snow globes are made of a range of materials, including old-fashioned glass and ceramic combinations as well as plastic, in equally varied sizes and shapes. Modern snow globes also come once in a while with a newfangled accessory or two, including music boxes, moving parts, and snow-motors.
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Gas Logs
With a gas log, you can skip the fuss of handling wood logs and enjoy all the comforts of a warm, crackling fire in any setting—even an apartment.
The most popular gas logs are vented logs that come in a variety of lengths and tend to be the most realistic in equally varied faux wood types and textures. These logs are for fireplaces with open dampers as they burn gas much like real logs; more than 80 percent of the fire’s heat is released through the chimney.
Ventless logs are made for fireplaces with a closed or no damper, such as an apartment fireplace. While less diverse in simulated wood styles than vented logs, ventless gas logs are more fuel efficient.
Partially vented logs, as their name suggests, can be used with a damper only partially open.
