A Love (Seat) Story
This is a love story, but it really begins with an affair between women…and the voluminous dresses of their day. Fashion, 17th century France specifically, had very particular demands. Poofs, hoops, and layers necessitated the chair to broaden or else tip under the weight of silks, tassels, bustle, and lace. The earliest incarnations of what we know today as a loveseat were typically made of oak and were unupholstered. Most resembled in size a generously portioned armchair and were found in only the most well-heeled homes of the time. It was a place where a woman could more comfortably sit and tend to her lavish garments.
Styles changed as they do, dresses followed closer to the form, and the ‘loveseat’ was born. Without the extra flounce attached to her person, a woman could find a bit of freedom. Victorian courting couples could sit and speak intimately, while still in view, safeguarding from gossip. Social mores were strictly enforced, so a private conversation between lovers was a gift given by a finely crafted piece of furniture.
Though the term 'loveseat’ didn’t originate until the 19th Century, there have been multiple incarnations of this saucy settee. It has also been termed ‘courting couch’ and ‘kissing bench’ placing it firmly in the ranks of most entirely romantic pieces of furniture, despite its more pragmatic origin story. The tête-à-tête style loveseat is known by the serpentine shape and allows a pair to sit close, face to face, while maintaining a modesty barrier. Slightly larger still, The Chaperone Chair, or ‘En Confidante' is a sofa intended to guide a budding young Victorian courtship a bit more closely, having set aside room for a third vigilant observer.
The Fainting Couch, made popular in the mid 19th century, is an extension of our romantic settee and was a sometimes answer to tight corset stays. When a person wanted to catch their breath, or perhaps entertain comfortably in private, this was a place to rest that was not their bed. It was also known as a chaise longue, or lounge, its form a call back to Roman design. Art of the time depicted women at rest, in her boudoir, reclining in various states of undress. This created obvious allure and flamed the fires around the curved chair.
Due to new mass production methods of the 20th Century, the modern chaise and loveseat became widely accessible to people who weren’t solely upper-class society. This was during a time the working class began to receive social messages that they too should enjoy their leisure time. From a design perspective, we saw master craftsmen play with shape and form- from sleek and modern to cozy and traditional.
Over 300 years ago, we decided to take a narrow oak bench, widen it, add padding, and decorate to every imaginable taste and style. The tale of the loveseat is, at its heart, a love story between comfort and connection.
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