Garden furniture in historic gardens. Forms, roles, uses and functions

Whether they are seating elements (chairs, benches, sofas), features used to define spaces (trellises, railings, fences), containers for orangery plants, or even various play structures, all these elements, when judiciously positioned within the garden, contribute directly to the structuring of the landscaped space and to the interpretation of its layout.
Beyond their aesthetic and decorative roles, these features – whether fixed or movable – are intimately linked to the pleasures of sight (viewpoints), of strolling (resting whilst walking) and of the sensory experience of the place (immersion in the landscape).
Not to mention the role in fostering social interaction played by the provision of seating suitable for users of gardens open to the public.