A mattress is a cushioned, supportive structure used for sleeping, typically consisting of a core of springs or foam enclosed in a fabric case. The concept of a comfortable sleep surface is not the result of a singular invention, but rather a long evolution spanning millennia. Historically, the pursuit of a softer, more insulated place to rest transformed the basic sleeping mat into the complex, engineered product found in modern homes.
Early History of Sleeping Surfaces
The earliest known attempt to create a defined sleeping area dates back approximately 77,000 years, discovered in a rock shelter in Sibudu, South Africa. This rudimentary bedding consisted of compressed layers of sedges and grasses, some of which contained natural insect repellents. This ancient surface was designed to lift the sleeper off the hard, cold earth, suggesting an early understanding of insulation and cushioning.
As civilizations developed, the wealthy in ancient societies began using raised platforms. In Ancient Egypt, beds were elevated on wooden frames, often with hoofed legs, primarily to protect the sleeper from rodents and snakes. These frames used woven reeds or leather straps to support a mattress, which was often a simple mat or a covering stuffed with materials like palm bows.
The Ancient Greeks and Romans continued the practice of using elevated beds, or lectus. For the average Roman citizen, the mattress was typically a bag stuffed with rough materials like straw or hay, resting on a wooden frame with rope webbing. However, the affluent introduced luxury by stuffing their mattresses with soft wool or feathers, signaling comfort as a status symbol.
Bedding Developments in the Middle Ages
During the Medieval period in Europe, bedding remained relatively simplistic for the general population, often consisting of sacks filled with straw or peas placed on a wooden frame. The material used for stuffing often indicated wealth, with the poor relying on hay and the elite indulging in feather-filled casings. These fabric cases, sometimes called “ticks,” were sewn shut and placed on the wooden bed base.
The word “mattress” is derived from the Arabic term matrah, meaning “to throw a cushion on the ground.” Europeans encountered this practice and the term during the Crusades between the 11th and 13th centuries, and the word evolved through Old French into the English “mattress.” This etymological shift reflects the influence of Middle Eastern comfort on European sleeping customs.
By the Renaissance, the bed transitioned from a simple sleeping place to a central, elaborate piece of furniture, particularly among the aristocracy. Four-poster beds with intricate carvings became a symbol of status, but the mattress itself still relied on traditional organic fillings like feathers or wool. The technology remained focused on containing soft materials within a stitched fabric shell, without mechanical components.
Identifying the Modern Mattress Pioneer
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century created the conditions for a revolutionary change in mattress construction, shifting the focus from organic stuffing to supportive mechanical technology. The coiled steel spring, initially patented for use in chair seats in 1857, was adapted for the sleeping surface. The German inventor Heinrich Westphal is credited with developing the first innerspring mattress in 1871, though he never profited from the innovation.
The mass-market adoption of the innerspring design was driven by Zalmon G. Simmons II. Recognizing the potential of the pocketed coil system, which featured individually wrapped springs for better motion isolation, he commissioned the development of a machine to mass-produce it. The resulting automated process allowed Simmons to launch the Beautyrest mattress in 1925, establishing the steel coil as the dominant support structure for the next century.
Further innovations continued to redefine the modern mattress, moving beyond metal springs to engineered foams. The Dunlop company developed the first latex foam mattress in the early 1930s, using a process to whip natural rubber tree sap into a resilient, cushioning material. Later, in the 1970s, scientists at NASA developed viscoelastic polyurethane foam, known today as memory foam, for use in aircraft seating to absorb pressure. This material was commercialized for mattresses beginning in the 1990s, offering a synthetic alternative to traditional springs and natural latex.