Deep-Seated

Upholstered seating is familiar to all of us as a more or less constant companion in everyday life.

Upholstery conveys a sense of security and promises comfort, suggests or creates status, and tells a (hi)story. We barely give a thought to its interior. Yet a glimpse inside the chairs and armchairs is a journey into secrets, of lashed and sprung constructions, which prove to be unknown masterpieces of craftsmanship.

Deep-Seated: The Secret Art of Upholstery traces pieces of furniture and their inner details and illustrates why upholstery is a constant constituent of cultural and social history. From the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Historicism, and Art Nouveau to designs by Arne Jacobsen and Alvar Aalto, the history of upholstered furniture is traced up to the present day. It also includes a closer examination of the corresponding tools, textiles, braiding, tassels, and cushions. All this accumulated knowledge is summarised at the end in an extensive glossary for reference.