Furniture is generally in Class 20 irrespective of material composition. Furniture adapted for a special use, however, is classified according to its purpose, such as furniture especially made for laboratories in Cl. 9 and dentists' armchairs in Cl. 10.
Bedding, such as mattresses and pillows, is also in Class 20 but not bed linen, eiderdowns, sleeping bags and blankets, which are in Cl. 24 as textile goods.
The list of materials in the Explanatory Note of Class 20 allows the inclusion in this class of certain goods that are classified by material composition. In the Nice Classification, finished goods are in principle classified according to function or purpose. Goods that cannot be classified in this way are classified according to other criteria, like the material of which the goods are made (see General Remark (a) for Goods) and, if they are made of the materials mentioned in the Explanatory Note, they belong to Class 20. Typical examples are figurines or statuettes. Because the function or purpose of these goods cannot be identified in any of the Class Headings or Explanatory Notes of the Classification, they are classified according to material composition in the different "materials classes", for example, in Cl. 6, Cl. 14, Cl. 16, Cl. 19, Class 20 or Cl. 21 if they are made, respectively, of common metals, precious metals, papier mâché, marble, plaster or ceramic.
Furthermore, Class 20 is the class for goods made of materials other than metal that often have a counterpart in Cl. 6 when those goods are made of metal. For example, metal containers for storage or transport are in Cl. 6, while those made of other materials are in Class 20. There are containers in Cl. 21 as well but these are limited by the Class Heading of that Class to those that are for household or kitchen use and are thus classified according to that purpose, irrespective of material composition.
Many hardware items of plastic are in Class 20 with their equivalent of metal being in Cl. 6. It should be noted, however, that all hardware related to curtains is classified in Class 20, irrespective of material composition. In addition, curtains that are not made of textile, such as bamboo or bead curtains, as well as window blinds or shades for indoor use, are in Class 20 because they are considered to be furnishings.