Entryway: The Origin of the Hall Tree Bench

Anybody familiar with interior decorating or furniture will immediately conjure up vivid imagery when somebody mentions the notion of a hall tree bench. As far as ornate decoration goes, only a grandfather clock can compare with the lively adornment that hall tree benches evoke.

While each hall tree bench carries with it a story, the story of the "hall tree" acts as a precursor to the entire lineage. Hall trees have been around in both Europe and America as well as countless other nations for nearly as long as humans sought dwelling. A typical hall tree even to this day will have a series of pegs that, throughout the centuries, visitors who have darkened the doorways of a hospitable samaritan have placed their coats and hats on. Most hall trees also have mirrors on them so that a person can take a quick look at their face before they step out of their abode and into the frightening real world. Some may recognize hall trees from old western movies that starred heroes like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Saloons and hotels in the 1800s and on often featured hall trees that varied from beautiful to obscene and everything in between. At any rate, the ultimate goal of such a piece of furniture was to add a touch of class to the surrounding area. Often, this end was accomplished. There is documentation throughout history lending itself to the unwavering support of hall trees among the pillars of society. It is interesting to note that, while civilizations have come and gone and much of what was once cherished is tossed by the wayside, hall trees live on as if they have always existed organically.

The idea of adding a bench for storage to a hall tree was an inevitable one. Fortunately, the creation of a hall tree bench did not have a negative effect and instead is now the typical image that one conjures up when thinking of a hall tree. The bench at the bottom that protrudes out and allows for a quick sit has been the home to countless sibling confessions, drunken limerick-telling, and feud-ending moments throughout history. One can only sit and wonder in awe and excitement about what prospects the future holds for this ever evolving piece of furniture. This reporter's inkling notes to some form of clock-like implementation. Perhaps a melding of the studiousness of a grandfather clock with the somber stoicism of a hall tree? One can't rightly predict trends that may not be fully realized for decades, however, but if history has taught us one thing, it is that hall trees have grown, died, wept, cried, and existed alongside us, in the ebb and flow of humanity's tide.