The upholstered sofa, as we know it today, emerged during the late 16th century to early 17th century. However, its origins can be traced back even further to ancient Egypt around 2000 BC.
During that period, couches predominantly used natural elastic materials including horsehair, poultry feathers, and plant fluff as filling. These materials were covered with soft fabrics like velvet and embroidery to create a luxurious surface that offered a comfortable experience to users.
Looking back at the origins of sofas, the Farthingle chair was a popular choice in Europe in earlier times. However, when focusing on the evolution of sofa chairs in China, it is believed that the first type of sofa to be introduced was the "Jade Table" during the Han Dynasty. The "Jade Table" was a seat covered in a dense layer of fabric, as illustrated in the "Xijing Miscellany", and is considered the original ancestor of Chinese sofas.