The history of venetian Blinds is colourful and extends back many hundreds of years. Primitive societies used wet cloth to shade windows and cool their home interiors. The Egyptians gathered together reeds to decorate and shade their homes, and the Chinese used similar techniques with bamboo.
Venetian blinds were thought to have originated in Venice, Italy. However contrary to popular thought, Venetian blinds actually originated in Persia. According to a 1941 book by Thomas French, Venetian traders discovered the window blinds in Persia and brought the innovative idea to Venice. Thomas French stated that Venetian slaves granted liberty in the late 1700s brought venetian style blinds to France, creating industry selling window blinds to the French. The French name for window blinds, “Les Persienes,” makes reference to the origins.
In 1761, venetian blinds were used in St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. John Webster, a trader from London popularised the use of Venetian blinds in the United States in 1767. In fact, Venetian blinds were seen in the 1787 painting of J.L. Gerome Ferris titled, “The Visit of Paul Jones to the Constitutional Convention.” Illustrations of Independence Hall in Philadelphia featured Venetian blinds when the Declaration of Independence of the United States was signed.
In 1841, John Hampson of New Orleans invented the mechanism that lets people easily adjust the slats. In the 1940s, Venetian blinds made with aluminium and metal slats appeared. Venetian blinds were embraced by decorators of commercial and institutional buildings because they were more durable, easily operated, and economical.
Today, the emergence of Venetian blinds and Vertical blinds covered in fabric are incredibly popular with modern interiors. Their functional advantages coupled with versatility in terms of style, make them excellent window decorations. Motorisation provide the home owner with the very best in home automation capability combined with ease of use.
This is my wifes former family home, which was bought by then in 1907, and you can clearly see they had Venetian Blinds with matching tape. They sold this home in1985 and it is now a set of 3 flats all retailing at about £500,000. It very interesting to see that the blinds go so far back.