Ottoman Simplicity of Sitting

This entry sits within the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub indexing design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.

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Ottoman. A low seat with a cushion became popular in the late 1700s. It was obvious that a simple way to sit like this would be useful, so there were a lot of corner and round versions in the 1800s. Many pictures of Victorian rooms show these practical but heavy-looking pieces with deep buttons. In America, there were many different kinds of ottomans. In their most basic form, they are called Turkey sofas, a gentle nod to their historical origins.