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Ottoman: A brief history about the one of the most used furniture pieces
The ottoman, a widely recognized piece of upholstered, backless furniture, holds a rich and somewhat debated history tied to its namesake, the Ottoman Empire. The term itself is often attributed to Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, also known as ‘Uthman’ in Arabic. One prevailing theory suggests that the concept of the ottoman originated from a practice in the Ottoman Empire, where people would use stools piled with cushions to rest their feet in homes and tents. Turkish carpet weavers are credited with developing these footrests using bales of cotton. This method potentially evolved from an ancient Egyptian technique of crafting low stools from cloth and natural materials, a solution to the scarcity of wood in the desert environment. Early wooden frames in Egypt were often padded with leather for comfort.
Another perspective proposes that in medieval Turkey, the ottoman was a primary form of residential seating, specifically referring to 'divan' — banquette-like sectional furniture that would line three walls of a room. These divans, laden with pillows, were common in council meetings (also called divans) held by sultans and commanders, fostering human interaction. The ottoman concept made its way to Europe in the late 18th or early 19th century. Its earliest documented use in Europe dates back to 1729 in France, appearing as ‘ottomane’. Thomas Jefferson's 1789 memorandum, detailing his purchase of a velvet ‘ottomane’ (likely an armchair) during his Paris tour, marks its entry into the English language. Upon its arrival in the West, the larger, divan-like piece began to shrink into smaller, more versatile units, suitable for corners or as circular seats around central columns, as often seen in modern hotel lobbies.
By the 19th century, the design of the ottoman evolved significantly, moving from wall-aligned seating to a central room feature. It adopted circular or octagonal forms, and some versions even included backs or arms. However, contemporary ottomans are typically devoid of these features, often incorporating buttoned upholstery, castors, or integrated storage. The French invasion of Egypt in the late 18th century offers another theory for the ottoman's nomenclature. French observers reportedly witnessed locals using distinct footstools to rest their feet after enduring various hardships under Ottoman rule. The French then adopted this furniture style. Alternatively, Western European travelers might have brought this Near Eastern design back from their travels in Greece and the Balkans. The exact reason for the name transition from ‘ottomane’ to ‘ottoman’ and its potential symbolic implications—such as keeping the 'ottoman' (referring to the empire) figuratively 'under one's feet'—remains a subject for contemplation.
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