{{Short description|Item of furniture}} thumb|A telephone table A '''gossip bench''' or '''telephone table''' is a piece of furniture that combines a chair with an attached side table on one end, sometimes with built-in storage such as one or more drawers or shelves, or a magazine rack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Brittney |date=2018-07-13 |title=Telephone Benches Are A Must-Have For Tiny Entryways |url=https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/furniture/g22131967/telephone-benches/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=House Beautiful |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311103507/https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/furniture/g22131967/telephone-benches/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The furniture became popular shortly after the telephone was invented in 1876.<ref name="rosson"/> They were most popular between the 1930s and the 1950s,<ref name="rosson" /> but have no specific date of invention, as they developed over time as a matter of convenience and necessity.
The gossip bench began as a shelf for the telephone (then a very large and cumbersome non-portable object) to rest upon, usually in the hallway of the home. Naturally, telephone users began sitting on a chair while using the telephone. Soon, the two (shelf and chair) were combined into one stylish piece of furniture by opportunistic furniture craftsmen everywhere.<ref name="kirwan">{{Cite web |last=Kirwan |first=Paula |title=Gossip Benches |url=http://www.gaslampantiques.com/magazine/features.php?article=410 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419183524/http://www.gaslampantiques.com/magazine/features.php?article=410 |archive-date=2018-04-19 |access-date=2018-04-06 |website=The Design Elements}}</ref> A lamp and the telephone would typically be placed on the table top of the gossip bench, while a telephone directory would be stored in the drawer underneath.
As with other types of furniture, different regions produced different types of gossip bench. Scandinavian influence produced more sleek styles, while those in Great Britain were more ornate.<ref name="kirwan" /><ref name="rosson">{{Cite web |last=Rosson |first=Helaine Fendelman and Joe |date=2011-04-17 |title=Treasures in your attic: Telephone table history parallels phone use |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20110417/lifestyle/treasures-in-your-attic-telephone-table-history-parallels-phone-use/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Daily Herald |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=deLongchamps |first=Kya |date=2017-10-07 |title=Vintage View: 'Gossip benches' are unfortunately not written about |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/property/homeandgardens/arid-20460460.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * Telephone desk
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Benches (furniture) Category:Tables (furniture) Category:Chairs
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