I have described this antique mahogany gothic bench as a hall bench, because it perfectly suits that purpose and is a more familiar term. However, a more accurate description would be a gallery bench. When this bench came into stock it was obvious that the angle of the bench''s seat had been adjusted. To begin with we were baffled, but it was a chance visit to the V & A (prior to its recent refurbishment) that solved the riddle. Our bench is identical in design to the original benches that were once in situ in the Raphael Gallery. So, our question was answered, either it used to form part of the original seating in the gallery, or alternatively, it was made as a small manageable prototype for the much larger benches that I encountered on my visit. The Raphael cartoons, which are some of the most important surviving examples of Renaissance art in the world, form part of the Royal Collection and have been on loan to the V & A since 1865. The Raphael Gallery was commissioned to house the ...