The House of Miniatures

THoM Product # 40030 - Chippendale Double Settee

Catalog Description: Popularly called a "love seat", because it allowed a young couple to sit close together without criticism. 3 3/8"h x 3 3/4"w x 1 3/4"d.

Circa: 1760

Style: Chippendale

Period: Colonial

Design © 1977

Chippendale designed many styles of settees in both double and triple chair configurations. Even some quadruple chair settees exist. The double chair settee was popularly called a "Love Seat" since it enabled the maiden and her suitor to sit daringly close together without being subject to criticism. It had marked disadvantage over the country colonial settees for the purpose since it did not have the high closed back and protective wings to hide them from prying eyes. This settee was equally at home in the hallway as it was in the living room. In the hall is provided a resting place for arriving guests until their host could come to greet them properly. In design it was almost identical with the chairs of the period, in fact they were often decorated to match the other chairs present in the house. The legs, backs, and front apron provided ample space for the woodcarver to exhibit his skills and rich ornamentation was commonplace on this attractive piece of furniture. Fabrics used in upholstering these settees ranged from the plain to expensive damasks and brocades. Since this settee often was placed in a prominent place it was also often used to display the needlework skill of the mistress of the house.

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