or TELEPHONE BENCH

The charm of antique furniture lies in the fact that it always has a story to tell. Some pieces transport us back several decades, while others sweep us away on journeys spanning centuries. This article is dedicated to the “koutsobola”—the “gossip” chair – telephone bench. The word “koutsompola” did not always refer to a person who spreads news and gossip; in our case, it denotes a distinctive small piece of furniture designed to seat only one person. Let us briefly discuss the meaning behind this piece of furniture’s name. Gossip originated as a social survival mechanism within communities. In the Middle Ages, however, it became associated with repression and patriarchy. To silence women, the authorities of the time—both ecclesiastical and municipal—employed the so-called “scold’s bridle” or “gossip’s bridle”, a metal mask used to punish those who spoke too much. It was first used in Scotland in the early 16th century, a period that also saw its introduction in England. In Scotland, it was even used when a wife chattered excessively; it was a means of bringing her to heel. A little later, it came into use in Germany as well. Fortunately, it fell out of use in the early 19th century. The piece of furniture appeared in Europe in the mid-1950s with the expansion of landline telephony. In Greece, it flourished from the early 1960s through the late 1970s. This seat—essentially a small settee—features a small surface at one end where the owner could place an essential accessory; without it, the very reason for the furniture’s name would be lost—namely, the telephone. This type of design was intended to offer greater comfort to the person using the phone. It was usually a woman’s affair, involving a wide range of topics discussed during the call, with no regard for the time spent on it. Some of these small pieces of furniture featured one or two drawers for storing the telephone directory, a notepad, an address book, and often various small items. Furniture of this kind is hardly ever found in homes these days. So, one Monday morning while driving to work, I stopped at a red light. My gaze shifted to the right, and that’s when I spotted this little piece of furniture discarded in a pile of trash—in a terrible state: torn upholstery, broken legs, and scratches all over. Feeling a touch of nostalgia, I decided to rescue it and try to bring it back to life—to restore some of its former glory, given the countless conversations and bits of gossip that must have taken place on its little sofa. The project came to fruition thanks to the superb restoration work of my close friend and master craftsman Christos Kousiouris, and it now graces my collection.