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Antique Settees

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Multiple seats were for the masses, to pack them into restricted spaces. The earlier forms were settles, such as the oak box-settles and monk's table. These were better than church pews, sometimes containing storage space in the enclosed well beneath the bench, where religious artifacts, such as the crosses of the faithful could be temporarily stored. The seat was like a plank, but more elegant with a high back, arm rests on the sides, and usually carved. Cozier and less formal were the settees, which were often sparse of construction materials, including limited padding for the seat.

Comfort was improved and were adequate for visitors, perhaps suitors of the daughter of the house, where the nervous young men could sit somewhat comfortably for brief periods. The double chair-back settee was an elegant example of early Georgian furniture which combined two chairs, each position with its own back, but sharing a center bench, often with an extra leg in the middle for support. Here, the visitor could be more intimate with a family member without the opportunity of reclining. There were larger versions, three-seaters, usually ornately carved but still simple in structural design. As time went by, more cushioning was added to the seat, but the backs remained sparse of materials comfort. The modern era saw cast metal settees for entertaining outside, while the parlor versions improved somewhat, increasingly padded but not to the point where a guest might feel comfortable to remain overnight. These were for visitors for whom the clock was ticking, and who did not qualify for the more intimate comfort of the sofa or lounge. 15hqqx.

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