The sofa is located in the house of Majit Gafuri, a poet, a classic of Bashkir and Tatar literature, who was persecuted for his revolutionary views for a long time. In the 1920s, when this piece of furniture was purchased, the poet’s life became more leisurely. He could afford to read books at home. There, he reflected on the images of his characters and discussed creative plans with his friends.
The prototype of such a sofa can be considered an ancient Roman bed with an elevated headboard — the klinē. They bore little resemblance to modern sofas. A klinē was made of wood, stone or metal, with cushions and blankets placed on top. On such beds the ancient Romans not only rested, but also ate, received guests, and even conducted business negotiations.
In the East, there were also prototypes of sofas. However, originally this was the name of the room in which the statesmen gathered. Then, the word moved to the noble houses, where the sofa began to be called a room for receiving important guests. Only many years later, the word “sofa” gained its modern meaning — a wide bed without legs. It was covered with rugs and a large variety of cushions. The nobility rested on these kind of sofas.
In Europe, sofas appeared in the 17th century. At that time, they looked more like a hybrid of several chairs with a high back and upholstered armrests. Around the same time, a couch — a wide bench upholstered with expensive fabrics — was invented. It had elegant carved legs and a low headboard.
In addition, in France, they invented the couch with two headboards, but without a backrest. Its inventor is considered to be Madame Recamier. This furniture was very popular with noble ladies, who ordered couches for their boudoirs. Only at the beginning of the 19th century, in France Turkish sofas became fashionable. They were placed in a special room — a sofa room, next to the living room.
In Russia, the first sofas appeared in the middle of the 18th century. They were similar to the Turkish ones — wide, with lots of cushions. However, French couches — as the one displayed at the museum’s collection — did not avoid Russia.
The prototype of such a sofa can be considered an ancient Roman bed with an elevated headboard — the klinē. They bore little resemblance to modern sofas. A klinē was made of wood, stone or metal, with cushions and blankets placed on top. On such beds the ancient Romans not only rested, but also ate, received guests, and even conducted business negotiations.
In the East, there were also prototypes of sofas. However, originally this was the name of the room in which the statesmen gathered. Then, the word moved to the noble houses, where the sofa began to be called a room for receiving important guests. Only many years later, the word “sofa” gained its modern meaning — a wide bed without legs. It was covered with rugs and a large variety of cushions. The nobility rested on these kind of sofas.
In Europe, sofas appeared in the 17th century. At that time, they looked more like a hybrid of several chairs with a high back and upholstered armrests. Around the same time, a couch — a wide bench upholstered with expensive fabrics — was invented. It had elegant carved legs and a low headboard.
In addition, in France, they invented the couch with two headboards, but without a backrest. Its inventor is considered to be Madame Recamier. This furniture was very popular with noble ladies, who ordered couches for their boudoirs. Only at the beginning of the 19th century, in France Turkish sofas became fashionable. They were placed in a special room — a sofa room, next to the living room.
In Russia, the first sofas appeared in the middle of the 18th century. They were similar to the Turkish ones — wide, with lots of cushions. However, French couches — as the one displayed at the museum’s collection — did not avoid Russia.
