The history of our modern aluminum horizontal blinds, commonly called a mini blind comes from the original Venetian Blind.
The early history of the venetian blind is conjectural. The early Venetians, who were great traders, are thought to have brought the idea of the blind from Persia to Venice. The Venetian slaves, once freed, are then thought to have brought the blind to France for personal comfort and as a means of livelihood. The French name for Venetian blinds is “Les Persienes.” In 1761 St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia was fitted with venetian blinds. The first pioneer of the venetian blind in the US was John Webster of London who advertised his wares in 1767. Venetian blinds then appeared in the 1787 painting by J. L. Gerome Ferris, entitled “The Visit of Paul Jones to the Constitutional Convention.” Other illustrations show venetian blinds at Independence Hall in Philadelphia at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The first large modern building in the US to adopt venetian blinds was Rockefeller Center’s RCA Building (better known as the Radio City building) in New York City at the turn of the 20th century.
The venetian blind is thought to have grown in popularity for its technical improvements over cloth shading systems. The following three advantages were often sited: 1) greater durability, 2) easier operation, and 3) more economical.
In the 1940s advocates of the venetian blind claimed that its technical supremacy came without losing charm, the rich possibilities of decorative and romantic treatments, and impressions of stately splendor. However, the venetian blind proved to be more popular in commercial and institutional markets, where technical supremacy overshadows charm.
History of origin
Venetian blinds may have originated in Persia, not the canal city of Venice, Italy. Or, they may date all the way back to ancient Egypt. Origins of Slatted blinds have existed for centuries. Ancient Egyptians tied reeds together to use as a window covering. The Chinese used bamboo strips in the same way. The true story of Venetian blinds’ invention is unknown, but most experts date the first examples from around 1760. Early Venetian blinds were made of 2-inch wood slats hanging along cloth ribbons.
Early development
According to the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University, it is widely acknowledged that the Venetians brought the idea for the Venetian blinds back from trade expeditions to Persia between 1100 and 1500. Then, in the late 1700s, freed Venetian slaves who settled in France introduced the shades there France and began to fabricate Venetian blinds to earn a living during the late Middle Ages. In France, Venetian blinds are known as “les persienes.”
Popularity
Venetian blinds quickly gained popularity both in homes and public buildings. St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia covered its windows with Venetian blinds in 1761, and illustrations of Independence Hall also show Venetian blinds. Englishman John Webster brought Venetian blinds to the United States in 1767.Venetian blinds reached peak popularity in the United States in the 1930s. In 1936, manufacturers in New York put $210 million worth of the shades on the market. The blinds were made of wood or metal in extensive collection of colors and used in homes and businesses. The RCA Building (today the GE Building) in New York City became the first large commercial building in the United States to use Venetian blinds after it opened in the early 1930s.
Modernization
John Hampson of New Orleans gets credit for inventing or patenting a device to change the angle of a Venetian blind’ slats that continues in use today. That device is usually a plastic rod near the top of the blind.
Style updates
Hunter Douglas was the first company to develop a light, aluminum Venetian blind in 1946.The mini blind, featuring a one-inch slat, came on the market in the 1960s, followed in the 1990s by the half-inch micro blind. Today, two-inch wood blinds have regained fame.
Today’s Venetian blind design was patented in 1841 and is still in use more than 160 years later.