Deep-Seated – GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts, Germany

We are all familiar with upholstered seating. We know their often voluminous shapes and associate a promise of comfort and cosiness with the sense of sinking into soft upholstered cushions.

But all too often, our consideration is reduced to their outward appearance. The view inside is denied, as the inner universe of upholstered chairs is covered by textile, leather, or plastic sheeting. A glance into the interior of upholstered furniture is well worthwhile:

Under the decorative cloak is often hidden a real miracle of technique — the laced spring technique, which is tracked throughout the exhibition.

Upholstered furniture pieces by outstanding designers correspond with illustrative models, textiles, and pictorial documentation that trace the historical development of upholstery. Visitors are given an exclusive insight into normally hidden upholstery technology and can see works by outstanding masters of the craft. The spectrum ranges from furniture of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, and Art Nouveau periods to 20th-century modernism and contemporary experiments.