Antique French Louis XVI Rosewood Tete A Tete Conversation Chair Bench Loveseat

Description

An Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Tete A Tete Conversation Chair / Courting Bench. Made from Rosewood with an elaborate "S" form supported by turned and fluted columns terminating into block posts with round medallions on all four sides. The bench is upholstered in a red velvet upholstery with tufting. The aprons of the settee are carved with an elegant tulip pattern and supported by turned, tapered, fluted legs with arrow feet and casters.

It’s taken many names, shapes and forms over the centuries – the conversation chair, the courting bench, a tête-à-tête, a chaperone chair, the vis-à-vis, gossip chair or the indiscreet. Considered the pinnacle of sophistication and style during the Gilded and Victorian age, if you were entertaining the fashionable elite, one simply wasn’t running a home worth visiting without a conversation chair in one’s parlor.

Conceived in 19th century France, the basic setup consists of two seats conjoined in a serpentine shape, allowing the sitters to discreetly have a conversation. Without a table creating distance between them, they’re able to speak more intimately and quietly, while also preventing too much physical contact by virtue of a shared armrest cleverly doubling as an elegant barrier of sorts.

This suited Victorians very well. Budding courtships of the era often unfolded with the close supervision of parents or chaperones and the conversation chair effectively became a popular feature of the household for pushing a potential match in the right direction, while still keeping it all very PG-13.

The two-way chairs were wildly popular during France’s Second Empire where they first originated. The two-seater was known as “le confidant“, indicating that it was intended for confidential conversations; between political confidants, for example.

Condition

Good Antique Condition; General wear from use and age. Some blemishing to the fabric as well as a few missing round medallions on the square posts.

Dimensions

59" x 24" x 28"height ; seat 15"