Canapes',Sofa,Lounge,Divan,Tete-a-tete,Sociables,Settee or LOVE SEAT?

French Louis XV- Canapes'- from 1904  St.Louis Worlds Fair. Entrance Hall- first  floor

American Walnut -Rococo Revial  Love Seat. Purple guest room.

 The term sofa,couch,lounge,divan,tete-a-tete,settee,sociables or love seat, all seem to have different meanings, especially in different parts of the world. We Americans, are the ones, that came up with the term,"love seat." A far cry from the French word,"canapes' or the Italian expression, "sociables." Leave it to the American's, to get right to it. Two people on one seat,"love seat." Some how it is not as romantic sounding, even if the world,"love", is attached.

American  Rosewood, Rococo Revial  Settee ,or as the Italian says, Sociable, with built in chaperone . Gentlemens parlor. 

American  Rococo settee in the Blue Guest Room. This is a dear piece, might be my favorite. might?

American, Hayward Wakefield ,wicker loveseat.

American Walnut, Rococo Love Seat, part of a 6 piece set, Ladies parlor. On-suite.

    The defination of Settee is, a long seat with a back. Usually seats two. A medium sized sofa,with upholstered seat with back and arms. I found no defination for  love seat. In the furniture and decorator world, the term means a two seat sofa or couch. Some would say, smaller couch.
   Different types of settees were given different names deriving from there function. To me the most beautiful name is the one the French have used for years to name the  love seat,"Canape'. The name sofa is from the Arbic world,"suffah.".Settees originally came from Italy. Today the sofa or settee in Italy is commonly called a sociable. We owe much of our interior design and decoration trends to Italy. I have always said, they were and still are, the father of interior design. After Italy the sofa moved on to France where it flourished. To make it more comfortable for seating, fabric  and padding was added and the button tufting technique was invented. The French world for sofa, love seat is ,"Canape" Soon the sofa trend made it's way to America. The early Federal and Empire period found them to be stiff, straight and with out much decoration. The American Rococo period,1840-1890, brought the French influence to America.
    American Rococo is the name for one of the great international ornamental styles of the 18th and 19th century. The  emphasis was on naturalistic ornament carved and engraved. This movement started in New York and Philadelphia and latter moved to New Orleans and finally Grand Rapids. Rococo, sometimes called the Antique-French style, because of it's origins in 18th century France. The American Rococo style has become the American's version of French's Louis XV. The most recognized of the Romantic Revials with complex curves,r-scrolls, the furniture of the reign of Louis XV's , reigned supreme in America in the 18th and 19th century.

red silk damask on French love Seat in Entrance hall.

    The Rococo furniture soon became mass produced in New York,Cincinnati ,Grand Rapids and New Orleans. Makers like Alexander Roux, from France, working in New York. John Henry Belter, who patented a process of laminating and steam bending wood. Joseph Meeks , and Mitchell and Romensburg,  in New York and Prudence Mallard in New Orleans. All were leading makers and  designers of the American Rococo Revial Style. No longer did Americans have to travel to France and Italy and import fine furniture to America. It was made and sold in almost every major city after 1840.
   The,"Sociable." was a settee with a low back, flanked by two chair seats on each side ,going in the opposite direction. This was soon to be called in America, A Courting Sofa., with a built in Chaperone in the center, it was safe for a young lady and a gentleman, to be seated, in public, together, with out a scandal.
    Rococo referred to as, "late Baroque", 18th century style developed as Baroque artist became increasing  ornate. The world Rococo is seen as a combination of the French word,"Rocaille", meaning skill, due to reliance  of artists,on these objects, to produce decorations, and the refined and fanciful style of the 18th century. Rococo is now widely recognized as a major period in art and design.
After Rococo, the French Louis Seize Revial Style, soon took over Europe and American. This form was more sever and straight in lines. The squared off lines, backs, seats and arms, were far more simple. This is a style that is very popular in the world of interior design today. It is a simpler, cleaner look and much easier to live with. It was well known for its painted pieces and they are highly sought after by collectors today.

    The Rococo Revial is my style of choice. I have been in love with it for many years. I love the soft curves, carving, button tufting and the Cabriole leg. Most pieces made in America are of Walnut wood. Sometimes you find pieces of rare rosewood. The earlier pieces were almost always done in black horsehair. That trend soon gave way for velvet and damask. Since, My Old Historic House, was started in 1845, with and 1860 addition, I have tried to fill it with furniture of that period. Most of the furniture in my collection is American and of the Rococo period.. I do have a couple of pieces of French, and a small sampling of English. All the furniture is from the 1840-1860 era. Mr. Elgin, who built my house, was a river boat Captain and I am sure he had access to fine things. I have found in my studies, that most American Homes ,of this period, were furnished with American made furniture. The decorative accessories were another story, usually imported from  the owners, "Grand Tour", of Europe. I have tried to stay true to this  ,when filling my Historic home.    I have to say, I fit right in with the rest of my American friends and neighbors and call my little couches, LOVE SEATS. I have for so long, it just comes natural. At least every one knows what I am talking about, when I say, that love seat, right over there. The love seats I am sharing with you today ,are all American, except the gold one, and it is French. It comes to me by way of the 1904 Worlds fair, that was held in St.Louis. The Mayor of St.Louis at the time, David R. Francis, and host of the fair, had a farm in the country, right beside the farm I grew up on.. When I was a young kid, I mowed the yard for his Grandson. When they sold the farm in 1995, there was an Estate auction and I bought this French Love Seat. Mr. Francis said it was from the French Pavillion at the Worlds  Fair. The large Chinese vase beside it, was also to have been at that fair.
The gold gilt love seat, is true to the Louis XV style.
   I hope you enjoy this little lesson on small sofas, also known as a love seats. I have a passion for them and want to buy every one I see. I just want to hug them.But alas, room  has run out, and I am afraid, there will be no more. Please come by some time really soon, for a real tour. I will leave the lights on . And  you can see which love seat is  your favorite? Oh yes, Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a Kiss.

This settee and vase are from the 1904 St.Louis Worlds Fair.

My Old Historic House.

These are my storks, they rest on the roof of my house. Once while looking at random blogs , I saw a picture of my storks. It turned out to be Pat, from the Back Porch Musings blog,  she had driven by and snapped a picture. I emailed a comment and invited her for a real tour.  We have become friends,on and off the blog, every since then.I have been lucky as she has featured my house and blog several times on her blog.  It is such a small world. 

Mystery, this Gothic window is at the top of my stair case. I have tried for  5 years to get it open, today as I started down the steps, there it was, open. Go figure. 

PINK !!!!!!

 

The belly of the Conk Shell, found in a French Wire Plant Stand on my Side Porch.Sometimes the most purest colors come from Nature.

A group of Surprise Lilies  in my side yard. They come up in the spring with green leaves, the leaves die and surprise, in August you get these stems full of the most wonderful pink lilies. 

Fairy Pink Roses, bloom all season. 

Part of a French Chamber set, this pot is the most lucious pink I have.

Pink Italian beaded chandelier in my pink Guest bath.

      Shall we start with a simple Art lesson? There are three primary colors, Red, Blue and Yellow. From these three colors, plus white, the absence of all color, and Black, the presence of all color, all other colors are made. If one adds white to a color it becomes a Tint  of the former color. If you add black to a color, it becomes a Shade  of the original colors. PINK is a mixture of Red and White. Adding more White makes it a lighter tint. There are all tints and shades of Pink. Other primary and secondary colors can be added to Pink to make it a different shade. Adding a little blue, changes pink to more on the purple side. Adding Black makes Pink a little on the gray side. Yellow changes pink to be a little, what we call Peach. Endless combinations are possible and I am sure that is why  some paint company many years ago invented a machine to figure this all out.
   Pink is sometimes referred to as,"the color of love." The use of the word, "Pink," for the color known today as, "Pink," was first recorded in the late 17th century. Although Pink is roughly considered just a Tint  of Red, the fact most variations of Pink lie between Red, White and Magenta.Roseus is a Latin word meaning,"Rosy," or,"Pink." Lucretius used the word Pink to describe the dawn in his poem,"On the nature of things." The word is often used in the binomial names of several species, such as Rosy Starling. .In most Indo-European- languages, the color Pink is called Rosa.
     The color Pink is named after the flowers called,"PINKS." A flowering plant in the Dianthus family. The name derives from the frilled edge of the flowers. The verb,"to pink," dates from the 4th century. In German the word for Pink is Peck.

One of a Pair of French Old Paris Fan Vases. Only the French can do Pink like This.

Walnut Etergee in Down River Parlor full of English Pink Bristol. When Pink was my favorite color, I once took one of these vases to Home Depot to have the color matched by there computer, for paint for my parlor walls.

Italian Flower Pot with Matching Stand. Those Italians!

One of many pink Bristol pieces.

English Stroke on Trent Hand Painted Vase lives on the pier mirror in the entrance hall.

English Cased Glass Brides basket, from the Up River Parlor Center of the Room table. The pink is electric. 

    In Western Culture, the practice of assigning Pink to individual gender began in 1890's. At first pink was for boys. The reason, Pink, being a more decided and stronger color and more suitable for boys. At that time, Blue was the color for girls.In 1920's. the society norm was inverted, Pink became considered appropriate for Girls and then Blue was assigned to Boys. This practice has continued through the 21st century. Pink has become a Feminist color-a pink ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness.
   The phrase,"Pink-collar-workers," refers,  in the West, to persons working in fields or jobs regarded as women's work.

   Pink has often been used in the movie industry. Movies like,Pretty in Pink,Pink Cadillac, Pink Ladies in the movie ,Grease and Pink Moon. Pink has also been found in many song titles. Pink Friday, Pink House, Pink, Under the Pink, Pink Moon and Pink Cadillac.The 21st century even brought a Pop signer known by her first name, "Pink."
   Pink used to be my favorite color. Somehow I have left Pink, for a new love affair with Red. In some ways they are almost the same. I still love Pink, it is every where around me, in Nature and in the things I love, in my home. I was so surprised when I started this journey to find so much Pink in my life. I am sure a lot has to do with the fact  that it used to be my favorite. Pink is a easy color to live with. It always makes me smile. Sissy Dog even has a Pink belly (with black freckles). I can never get enough of her belly. I rub it and she goes on her back and feet in the air, saying come on Daddy,rub,rub,rub.
    I was asked by another Blogger, "How Sweet The Sound", to do a Pink Post this week. So here it is, in all it's PINKNESS. I hope you enjoyed my pink Journey. Please come by anytime for a real tour and I will always be glad to show you personally all the pinks in my life. Except, Sissy's Belly, I want to save that just for me. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will always meet you with a jump and a big Pink kiss.
    HAVE A PINK DAY!!!!!
 

English Sterling and Bristol Pink Epergene, Up River Parlor, side table.

English Needlepoint Face Screen on Stand, with Meisen Nude at base. Pink roses in her hair. 

Another English Art Glass Brides Basket.

Hand Painted Pink Asters on a pair of Limoge Vases, Up River Parlor mantle. 

Hand Painted Britches on a Meissen Statue.

I have a lot of these English Peach Blow Bobechets scattered about the house.

 Hand Painted Limoge plate with a Lady in a Pink Dress. Up River Parlor.

Ralph Lauren Vintage inspired wallpaper, Blue Bed Room Closet.

Needlepoint Chair Seat, made by Me, Blue bed room.

Hand Painted Ginger Jar, Guest Bath.YUMMY!

French Zubber Hand Printed Wallpaper Boarder, Blue Bed room.

Pink Spirera in the Front Garden

Pink Plaid Silk on Child's Chair, Down River Parlor.

A very fancy French Limoge Plate. See the lady all dressed up in her finery and she is fishing?

A Shadow box Framed Bridal Head Piece made from Fish Scales, 

 Pink Italian Marble floor in my Guest Bath

French Automaton Doll in Pink Dress

French Zubber wallpaper in the purple bed room.

French Zubber Hand Printed Wallpaper Boarder in Purple Bed room with pink roses.

Pink Scalamandre Silk Trim, Purple Bed Room Curtains.

This is an example of how the man was dressed in pink and the lady in blue. This was a 19th century ideal. 

This is the baseboard going up my Stairs, I marblized it to match the pink marble floor in the bath room above. 

My favorite Summer Drink. Crystal Light, Strawberry-Orange-Banana. Just add water and stir. Almost is a desert. Come have a big glass with ice with me on my porch. You are Always  welcome!