The other types of seat are much simpler and usually made by the head of the family, whether farmer, shepherd or artisan. They do not contain elements of professional cabinetmaking and the shape is determined by the knowledge, skill and economic environment of the amateur furniture-maker. They include
and
stools
made of boards, sections of tree trunk and woven plant stems. Tiny
footstools
also fall into this category. Rough
benches
were put together from planks supported by stools, when necessary for large gatherings.
Due to the fact that seats were intended for everyday use, usually in large families, they did not last long and thus few examples have survived from the past 200 years.
Tables were rarely found in Crete due to their high cost, and were replaced by boards on trestles. There were also various small tables carved out of tree trunks, with legs made of branches. Finally, a very low round table, the
sofras
, was used exclusively by the housewife, who sat at it on a small chair or stool to prepare food or knead dough.
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