Are Window Shutters Older Than Glass Windows Themselves?

A standout feature of solid wood shutters is that they look both modern and traditional at the same time, able to complement a wide range of architectural and interior design styles through their functionality and beautiful craftsmanship.

One of the biggest reasons why this may be the case is due to the fact that whilst shutters are constantly evolving in terms of manufacturing, design and finish, the concept of louvred shutters is older than glass windows themselves.

The concept of louvred shutters is believed to originate in Ancient Greece, with the windows of houses being fitted with marble, fixed louvres.

This helped to provide ventilation, privacy, security from intruders and some protection from the elements, although it also helped that Ancient Greece was geographically located in a place where the weather was typically very warm and clement.

As the concept spread throughout the Mediterranean thanks in no small part to the conquest of Greece by the Roman Empire, the louvre concept started to take a more familiar shape, with fixed louvres made of marble replaced by movable wooden ones that would be refined and be exported to the Americas.

Part of this was due to the availability of materials, given that huge quantities of marble were not always available, but another aspect was that differing weather conditions necessitated varying amounts of light and heat in rooms.

In Northern Europe, particularly in Britain, panel shutters were more popular, because there was far more rain, wind and stormy conditions, necessitating a more drastic level of protection.

Whilst glass windows were seen as early as 100 AD in Alexandria, they were not common due to the difficult and wasteful production processes required, and when the Roman Empire fell in the fifth century AD, glass windows largely disappeared with them for centuries.

This made shutters the primary form of window covering and protection for centuries, only starting to change in the 17th century, which made shutters a beautiful addition rather than a necessity.