Even when it comes to furniture, very few items specifically are named which defines their purpose and usage as vividly as possible. For example chairs. We have dining chairs, easy chairs, rocking chairs, reading chairs and etc. although all are types of chairs, but just a few variations in names and usage.
But, did you ever hear about ‘gossip chairs’? Gossip chairs, first designed during the French Renaissance, was specially designed to accommodate women’s favorite pastime – GOSSIP!
Caquetoire – commonly known as the gossip chair – has been derived from French word caqueter, which means ‘to chat’. They were first started to come in use during the era when women used to dress up in flowing farthingale skirts which rather required wide spacious chairs to sit comfortably in. Therefore, the caquetoire chairs were designed to accommodate woman in their voluminous attires.
The shape of a gossip chair is in any way close to other chairs which are rather square or rectangular. This wooden chair is rather designed in a trapezoidal or triangular seat fashioned in wider a front base and narrowing at the back. The arm rests are rounded in a u-shape to afford more room for the large skirts. The back is high and paneled, with beautifully carved designs and engravings.
Over the years, the gossip chairs have undergone various changes in design. Commonly, oak and walnut tree wood is used to manufacture these interesting chairs. The normal height measures are around 40-45 inches and width casually between 20-25 inches.
These chairs were hardly manufactured in pairs, so finding two chairs of the same design is rare.
Today, these chairs are used as either desk chairs or serve as the head of the table chair in dining room.
Some people have a great passion for collecting antiques and various artifacts. Using their interior decoration skills, they are always trying to enhance the look of their home and why shouldn’t one?
For all those who have an obsession with old wooden Victorian style furniture, furnish your drawing room with Caquetoires neatly cornered against the wall or position them near your window.
