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There are few cultures known as well for their elegance and the opulence like the French. Furniture is no different, and the chaise lounge is one piece of European innovation that is the living definition of luxury and sophistication. Besides the basic chaise lounge, there are modifications to the chair design, including the the Duchesse, the Recamier and the Meridienne. The original chaise lounge is actually an English mispronunciation of the proper word chaise longue, one whose error dates all the way back into the 1850s. Today, both versions are accepted, though the former is by far the more popular. The basic form of this seat is an upholstered couch in the shape of a chair with four legs. The result resembles a sort of daybed, one with a headrest at one end and can have a backrest or be backless. However, in translation, it simply means a long chair, and so in French can also refer to long recliners, including a number of outdoor seats and deckchairs. In practice, the chaise lounge can seat two to three people sitting upright, or one person can lie comfortably with her feet suspended above the ground. The designs of the chair run the gamut from simple to elaborately patterned, upholstered and carved. Antique version tend to be more ornate than contemporary chaise lounges, especially as todays models include sun loungers and other stripped down outdoor furniture. The Duchesse is one of the older varieties of chaise lounge dating to around 1785 that features a more chair-shaped backrest which curves around the contour of the seat and outward into two armrests. The entire shape of the seat more closely resembles an armchair, though a slightly distorted one. Why it is called the Duchesse is somewhat a mystery, as there is no history to support whether it refers to a specific duchess. A modification of the Duchesse is the Duchesse Brisee. Meaning broken, brisee refers to how the chair is divided into the aforementioned chair design with the addition of a long footstool. On the other hand, it can also denote two smaller, similarly shaped chairs with a shared footrest in between. Often mistaken for a chaise lounge is the Recamier. This seat was named for its appearance in the 1800 painting of Mme. Recamier by Jacques-Louis David and came thereafter to be associated with the French socialite. This type of neo-classical chair possesses a rounded backrest at both ends, and so resembles a widened U shape. They closely resemble a traditional French lit bateau, or boat bed, though designed for common areas rather than the bedroom. They are mostly backless, though some models do feature a sort of backrest along the long end as well. The term itself Recamier can be applied to other loose types of furniture design. Finally, there is the Meridienne. This is one of the more interesting types of chaise lounge because of its eye-catching asymmetry. With a high headrest, the chair back slopes downward toward the foot, where there is a matching footrest to form yet again a sort of daybed. The Meridienne enjoyed popularity in Western Europe during the same time as the Recamier and was meant to be used as a bed for midday naps, when the sun is closest to the meridian.
Article Source: http://www.aamras.com
Todd Arend is a freelance writing professional whose expertise covers a variety of areas, including patio and backyard furniture, landscaping and design. He regularly writes about Chaise Lounge and Wood Chaise Lounge.
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