9 Stylish Ideas For Your Sofa
The word "sofa" comes from the French coucher, which means "to lie ."
Whether used for lying down or sitting upright, the couch - and its cousins, the couch, the
times.
Use this list to identify a number of some common types that antique furniture fans are
Boudeuse Sofa
The boudeuse (pronounced boo-duhz) is a Kind of small upholstered sofa or loveseat of
Sorts, consisting of two seats sharing a common back, so the sitters face in opposite
Directions; developed during the mid-19th century, probably in France, it is
characteristic of ornate and luxurious Second Empire furniture, and usually employs
It is also known as a dos-à-dos ("back-to-back" in
French).
Pair of lovers who chose to sit facing away from each other on this kind of seating.
This extremely popular style is an upholstered sofa or settee with an arched back that
Rises to a prominent point in the middle, and rises slightly again at the ends. The Camelback
sofa usually has scrolled arms, and is primarily found in English and American
furniture. It was developed in the 18th century.
Leg and foot styles vary, depending on the exact period - cabriole legs are typical
style of Hepplewhite (with whose designs the style is often connected), and elaborately
carved monopodium feet often adorn Empire pieces
This style is sometimes described as a "hump-back" sofa.
Canapé à Confidante Sofa
The Canapé à Confidante (pronounced kan-a-pay ah kon-fee-dant) is a long sofa
Having a seat at each end that faces outward at right angles to the principal seat. The style
Was developed in 18th-century France reflecting the development of new kinds of
Furniture then. It's characteristic of Louis XV and rococo styles, as well as the
It's intended as seating for at least three
persons, not unlike an indiscret (as shown below), except that the center section is
usually much longer than the two side seats.
Chair-back Settee
This is a type of seating in which the backrest is composed of two, three or even more
Distinct chair frames, so the effect is that of a collection of chairs sharing a common seat.
An early type of couch, it developed in the late 17th century and continued to be
popular well into the 19th century, with the backs, legs, and feet reflecting the
The back chairs are usually open, but can be
upholstered. Additionally it is known in French as a canapé en cabriolet.
are combining thrifted individual chairs with interesting backs into settees.
Chesterfield Sofa
A Chesterfield is a Form of deep, completely upholstered sofa with rolled arms that are
The same height as the back, with which they form a single rolling curve. It is
Traditionally crafted with tufted, buttoned leather, though other fabrics can be used. This
sofa style originally rested on blunt arrow feet, but later models were stubbier, resting
on ball, bun or block feet.
It originated in England in the late 18th century.
It is typically associated
With mid-19th century Victorian styles, flourishing with the evolution of coil-spring
Plush and plump, the chesterfield sofa - like leather club chairs and wingback chairs - is
an article of furniture that speaks of sumptuous libraries and gentlemen's lounges.
Davenport Sofa
In the U.S., a davenport originally referred to a squarish sofa, usually upholstered, with
a high back and arms. The boxy style developed around the turn of the 20th century,
and was named for the A.H. Davenport Company of Boston (later Irving & Casson &
Davenport), a firm also known for manufacturing furniture designed by architect H.H.
Richardson.
Although somewhat archaic now, the term became generic, applied to almost any sofa
or couch, in the Midwest and upstate New York. It was popular enough so that, when
convertible sofa-beds were first developed, they were called "davenport beds." The
Kroehler Company of Naperville, Illinois, was the first to patent a sofa with hidden
mattress and springs in 1909, though earlier versions may well have existed.
A davenport also references a type of small, portable English desk, and the term largely
references the desk style in modern terms. Learn more about the davenport desk and
other interesting styles here:
Know Your Antique Desk Styles
Indiscret Sofa
The indescret (prounounced en-des-cray) is type of upholstered couch that can seat
three people. It was developed in the mid-19th century, probably in France, and it can
take two forms.
The earlier, dating from the 1830s, is a circular sofa, divided into three sections that
Share a single tall back in the center. The later, which emerged during the Second
Empire, consists of three connected armchairs in a pinwheel pattern like the example
shown here. Both types are often ornately carved, with tufted upholstery that uses the
coil-spring technology so dear to Victorian hearts - and furniture styles.
This style is sometimes quite aptly called a conversational sofa, and may erroneously be
identified as a tête-a-tête which only seats two people (see example below).
Méridienne Daybed or Fainting Couch
This type of daybed, a cross between a sofa and a chaise longue, characterized by a
sloping back that runs along the length of the piece, connecting the high headrest and
footrest (though some versions are open-ended). Legs can vary in shape, but the
Headrest and footrest, when present, are typically scrolled or curved.
Developed in the early 1800s, the méridienne (pronounced may-rid-ee-en) is
Typically associated with English Regency and late French Empire, though its
popularity continued throughout the 19th century and beyond.
The récamier (shown below) is a variation. These are sometimes referenced as Grecian
Daybeds or fainting couches also.
Récamier Daybed
A récamier (pronounced ruh-cam-ee-ay) is a Kind of light daybed that can double as a
sofa. It has a curved headboard and correspondingly scrolled, but usually shorter,
footboard. Originally backless, later versions often sported a low backrest, sometimes
sloping, that ran either all or partly down the length of the piece.
Developed in France in the 1790s, it was named for Madame Récamier, a Parisian
hostess and style-setter pictured reclining on one in a famed portrait. It's characteristic
of French Directoire/Empire, English Regency, and American Federal styles.
The méridienne (shown above) is a related style. These are sometimes referenced as
Grecian daybeds or fainting couches, more generically, as well.
Tête-a-Tête Settee
A type of settee that's basically two chairs joined together. They're conjoined in a
Serpentine shape so that the 2 people occupying it face opposite directions, but are
Quite close and can easily find each other in profile (the French phrase "tête-à-tête"
refers to an intimate conversation),
Developed during the early 19th century, the tête-a-tête (pronounced tet-ah-tet) is
Usually associated with ornate Victorian furniture styles and often uses the coil-spring
technology developed in the 1830s. Mid-Century Modern versions were also made by
designers Salvador Dali and Edward Wormley.
These are sometimes called a confidante, vis-à-vis (face-to-face) , or gossip couch, all
names suggesting private chats.
Windsor SetteeThis is variation on the Windsor chair: a long bench with a back and sides that consist
of multiple spindles inserted in holes in the base of a sunken, often saddle-shaped seat.
This settee typically has six legs, which are also inserted in holes in the seat and are
Often splayed and connected with H-stretchers; these may be turned, carved to simulate
Bamboo or tapering to finish in a simple or arrow foot. Arms might be S-, paddle-,
knuckle- or L-shaped.
The spindled backs of the settees come in various shapes, similar to those of the chair
(sack-back, bow-back, etc.). Straight low-backs appear to have been especially common.
Another typical variation was the arrow-back, which refers not to the shape of the back
but the spindles themselves, which were tapered and flattened at the end to suggest
arrows.
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