Sofas
ORIG. 1625 – a raised section of a floor covered with carpets or cushions. Turk. From the Arabic “suffah” – bench.
Earliest surviving examples of sofas date back to 17th century Europe. In those days, more commonly known as settees, they were design with backs and arms and large enough for two people to sit on.
The term ‘couch’ is often used in North America. It closely resembles the French word ‘couche’ meaning to lie down. Once it was discovered that sitting upright was not only comfortable but also more socially conducive, horsehair, feathers and straw were replaced in 1828 by the spring.
Today the sofa is the mainstay of most living rooms – along with the ubiquitous tv.
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