Wallpaper*'s Chair Arch at the V&A

Us Brits enjoy wierd traditions. We like jumping on horses and killing little bundles of fur. We believe any bad situation can be solved with a cup of tea and we love calling any female on TV with a sob story 'The Nation's Princess'. I blame Diana for that one. But I had no idea we like making arches out of chairs.

Architectually it's genius but true to form it's odd and totally pointless. The picture below was taken in 1884. The arch was built in High Wycombe to celebrate a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales. Imagine the Princess trying to climb up a pile of chairs whilst waving to the public with the stiff wrist, trying to stop her, e-hem, crown from showing!

Wallpaper* magazine were so impressed with the structure of these arches that they've build their very own in the V&A Museum's country garden. It's getting pulled down on the 27th of September so if you're around, pop in and have a look. It's pretty impressive.