BILLET DOUX
Little folding desk with a flap, easy to carry and large enough to write a love letter

BONHEUR DU JOUR
Such called because of the great “vogue” of this little fashionable lady desk topped with storage drawers. (cf catalogue)

BORNE

This circular sofa with central backrest finds its place in the middle of a living room. Its center can be easily ornamented with a plant or an art item. (cf catalogue)

BOUDOIR
Small, elegant, feminine sitting- room where the lady would retire to read, write, or entertain some intimate friends. (Cf. Catalogue)

BOUDEUSE or “BACK TO BACK”

Double seat separated with a small back so that people sitting turn their back to one another.(cf catalogue)

BURGAU
Large size iridescent mother-of-pearl, made of shells with blue and pink shimmers. First it was often used by Papuan makers, and then in Europe during the 19th century.(cf catalogue)

CAPITONS – PADDING
Seat trimming made of elastic springs introduced by 1825. Added to these springs, a swollen and strongly compressed padding (moving part of the trimming) has given rise to a “comfortable” chair, without any apparent wood.
This process definitely increased on all types of chairs till the end of 19th century.
It appeared in any room, among all the social classes of society. The Empress EUGENIE shared with NANA, the privilege of owning a large bed with a padded-back (preserved in the Château de COMPIEGNE). This gold and white wood monument is topped with a padded dome canopy.
Stuffing even went further than invading flats’ interiors since it started to decorate celebrities’ train–walls as well. The imperial yatch brimmed over with padding. It was femininity’s supremacy.
“He had just noticed the red silk and padded chair on which the countess was sitting. He felt disturbed by such a capricious style, such a color clash with the gray smoky atmosphere of the parlor. For, this kind of suggestive, voluptuous and lazing piece of furniture had certainly not been introduced by the count...The large chair had and unusual and creases look, and when he noticed the funny tilted position of its back, at last, he had a smile...”
E.ZOLA “NANA”

CONFIDENT – SECRET’S CHAIR
Double seat chair with a low back, in the shape of a letter 'S', so that people sitting opposite to each other could exchange whispered words(cf catalogue)

CAVE A CIGARES
Small box for cigars’ setting and storage, either on revolving display or on drawers.

CAVE A LIQUEURS
Small box that contains most of the time 4 decanters and 16 liqueur glasses.(exemple)

CHAUFFEUSE
Low fireside chair on which one could sit and get warm close to the fireplace.(exemple)

INDISCRET – INDISCREET SOFA

Three-seat chair in the shape of a helicoid, twist shaped as the “confident”.

GUERIDON
Little table, with a round or undulating shape, standing on one central leg, with tipping top.
In the 19th century, “gueridons” were used as fireguards or occasional tables, piled up in parlors and set up for parties, because their richly decorated tops looked like real paintings.(cf catalogue1, cf catalogue2)

MERIDIENNE – PAINTING SOFA

Sort of daily sofa-bed with backrest on one side only (one armrest, or sometimes none).

MEUBLE D’APPUI – CABINET
Not very deep unit, wide or not. It opens by one or two doors, straight or curved, sometimes trimmed with display windows. It was used for storage and could be found in parlors, boudoirs, and bedrooms. (cf catalogue)

NEO GOTHIQUE-GOTHIC REVIVAL
The French gothic art plainly appeared in the 12th century when cathedrals were built. In the 19th century, some of the characters of this style strongly came back into furnishing fashion and architecture (Viollet-Le-Duc) in several wealthy homes, under the name of neogothic (gothic revival). (cf catalogue)

PAPIER MACHE
Invented by the early 19th century from a mixture process of heated and molded cardboard and glue, in order to give free rein to English designers’ imagination then to French designers’ later on. (cf catalogue)

POUF
Sort of large and low stool, without any apparent wood, mostly round shaped, padded and covered with velvet and silk.(exemple)

SEMAINIER
Little chest of seven drawers. The first three drawers on top form a writing flap.

SIEGE GONDOLE
Chair with a rounded and slightly tilted back. (cf catalogue1, cf catalogue2)

VIOLON TABLE
Living-room table on curved legs, with two drawers featuring around and an undulating top, which reminds violin shapes.

TETE à TETE – LOVE SEAT

Small double seat sofa with two backrests for private conversation.(exemple)

TRAVAILLEUSE
Little unit with various shapes, on one central leg or on four legs, including inside its top part a needle work storage box. (cf catalogue)

TRICOTEUSE –KNITTING-TABLE
Small triple legs table with a single or double top formed with a basin made of revolving papier mâché for knitting balls storage.

VIS à VIS – FACING SEAT

Double seat made in such a way that two people could have a talk in front of each other.