UPHOLSTERED CHAIR AND FOOTSTOOL

You might assume adjustable ‘modular’ seating – think sofas comprising multiple, essentially cube-shaped blocks that can be assembled into various ‘L’ shapes – was a mid 20thcentury innovation. But you would be wrong. As early as the 1740s the French introduced the duchesse brisée, which literally translates as ‘broken duchess’. Comprising either a gondola-style chair and separate ottoman (as here), or an ottoman in between two chairs (usually one larger, one smaller), it could easily be reconfigured to meet changing seating requirements. This fine 18th- century example retains its opulent and original floral-pattern, cut-velvet upholstery.