# Gossip bench

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gossip_bench
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gossip_bench.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossip_bench
> Source revision: 1356886176
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Item of furniture}}
thumb|A telephone table
A '''gossip bench''' or '''telephone table''' is a piece of [furniture](/source/furniture) that combines a [chair](/source/chair) with an attached side table on one end, sometimes with built-in storage such as one or more [drawers](/source/Drawer_(furniture)) 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](/source/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](/source/Scandinavian_design) 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](/source/Telephone_desk)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Benches (furniture)
Category:Tables (furniture)
Category:Chairs

{{furniture-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gossip bench](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossip_bench) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossip_bench?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.