Canapé à confidante

an example of an indescret in the Grand Salon of the Napoleon 3rd apartments in the Louvre museum.

An indiscret[1] (also known[2][3] as a canapé à joue, a canapé à confidants, or a canapé à confidante) is a type of sofa, originally characterized by a triangular seat at each end, so that people could sit at either end of the sofa and be close to the person(s) sitting in the middle.[4] The ends were sometimes detachable, and could be removed and used on their own as Burjair chairs.[5][6] The name Confidante was coined by cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite,[7] who described it in his Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide as being "of French origin, and is in pretty general request for large and spacious suits of apartments. An elegant drawing-room, with modern furniture, is scarce complete without a Confidante...".[8]

References

  1. ^ Dictionary of Furniture 2014
  2. ^ DeJean 2009, pp. 123–125.
  3. ^ Banham & Shrimpton 1997, pp. 1194.
  4. ^ Zoglin & Shouse 1999.
  5. ^ Clouston 1975, pp. 161–162.
  6. ^ Burton 1967, pp. 141.
  7. ^ Yaxley 2003, pp. 50.
  8. ^ Singleton 1970, pp. 642.

Reference bibliography

Further reading

See also

  • Loveseat, a piece of furniture combining two seats in the shape of the letter S