Furniture with funny names
In the world of furniture and design, furniture names are not always limited to simple functional descriptions. Sometimes they are imbued with fantasy, poetry or even a hint of eccentricity. Names such as “The Toad Armchair”, “The Bill Sweet” or even “The Confidant” evoke images and emotions well beyond their simple usefulness.
In this article, we will explore some of these pieces of furniture with funny names, immersing us in a world where originality and imagination meet to create objects that are both functional and full of charm.
Le bonheur-du-jour
This discreet, small feminine desk, the “bonheur-du-jour”, takes its name from its clever storage compartments, often used by ladies to hide their intimate correspondence, thus echoing their “joys of the day”. Originating from the 18th century, this light and easily movable piece of furniture was very fashionable at the time of Louis XVI. Decorated with sumptuous marquetry inlays, shiny lacquer and mahogany veneers, it is sometimes decorated with Sèvres porcelain plaques.
With its small drawers and secret compartments, the joie-du-jour embodies an era when the beauty of furniture mixed with its functionality.
Le billet doux
Widespread in the 19th century, this small secretary or side table, known as a “billet sweet”, was prized for its delicate veneers and marquetry inlays. Equipped with a flap serving as a writing desk, it allowed ladies to discreetly engage in their correspondence, writing “sweet nothings” and gallantries to their lovers. It was decorated with delicate and feminine details, such as floral carvings or elegant engravings.
Le confident
Also known under the names “conversation”, “vis-à-vis” or “tete-a-tete”, the confidant consists of two armchairs, with high enveloping backs, leaning against each other and inverted, connected by the upper crosspiece of the folder, thus forming a more or less pronounced S. This romantic-looking piece of furniture is designed to encourage intimate exchanges and confidences, offering two people the opportunity to converse comfortably without needing to turn around. Appearing during the Second Empire, this emblematic seat of sociability was often richly padded. It easily found its place in living rooms or boudoirs, where it becomes the privileged accomplice of gentle conversations and companionable moments.
L’indiscret
Designed during the Second Empire, the indiscreet was distinguished from the confidant by the addition of an additional seat, arranged perpendicular to the other two. Just like the confidant, it allowed three people to converse without having to turn. Its name derives from the presence of this third person, whose “indiscreet” ear could disrupt the “confidence” of the first two guests.
La table gigogne
Very fashionable during the Second Empire, the nesting table usually consisted of four tables, designed to fit into one another, each with rectangular tops. The precise origin of its name remains uncertain, although a theory has prevailed over time. It is possible that its name was inspired by the theater puppet character “Dame Gigogne”, also known as “Mère Gigogne”, which appeared in 1602. This figure represented a giant woman hiding a multitude of children under her imposing dress, thus offering a visual analogy with nesting tables.
Today, the nesting table remains a practical and versatile piece of furniture, ideal for optimizing space in a living room or bedroom.
Le fauteuil bergère
The bergère armchair, an emblematic piece of furniture in the classic French style, embodies spacious elegance and comfort par excellence. With its enveloping armrests and richly padded high back, it offers optimal support for relaxing and resting. Appearing at the beginning of the 18th century, it underwent various stylistic evolutions over time. Under Louis XV, it was characterized by its graceful curves, while under Louis XVI, it adopted a straighter back. It is also available in different variations, with or without ears, seats of different widths, and sometimes a backrest topped with an armrest, allowing a guest to follow a game while remaining standing (called a “ponteuse” shepherdess or “voyeur”). Although the precise origin of its name remains uncertain, it seems that the term “shepherdess” refers to the tapestries fashionable in the 18th century, representing bucolic scenes, which frequently decorated these armchairs.
La table bouillotte
Decorated with a round top, a drawer belt and four legs, the living room table called “bouillotte table” is a small piece of furniture that appeared during the reign of Louis XVI. Its name is directly inspired by “bouillotte”, a card game very popular in the 18th century. The top of this table, often covered in marble or marquetry and surrounded by a copper gallery, served as a gathering place for enthusiasts of this lively and lucrative game, considered the ancestor of poker.
Today, the hot water bottle is an object of curiosity, recalling the simple and convivial pleasures of another time.
La console demi-lune
The half-moon console is an elegant and sophisticated piece of furniture, often used as a focal point in an entryway or living room. Its semi-circular top is supported by thin, delicate legs, adding a touch of lightness to its graceful silhouette. Its name evokes the shape of the moon when it is half full, adding a touch of poetry to its aesthetic. The half-moon console still remains an element found in our interiors today, combining space saving and functionality.
Le fauteuil crapaud
In the 19th century, under the reign of Louis-Philippe, the toad armchair emerged as a symbol of unparalleled comfort. With a compact and welcoming appearance, its particularity lay in its total absence of visible wood. Entirely covered in fabric – fabric, tapestry, velvet – with or without padding, he was often decorated with long fringes which cleverly concealed his feet. Its name evokes its compact and enlarged silhouette, similar to that of the folded body of a toad, as well as the curvature of its feet, suggesting the animal’s imminent leap. Although it is often associated with a classic or vintage style, the toad chair is often revisited in contemporary designs.
Le fauteuil cabriolet
Harmoniously adopting the curve of the body thanks to its slightly inclined backrest and its delicately curved armrests, the “cabriolet” armchair was omnipresent in the salons and boudoirs of the 18th century. Modest in size, with open armrests, it takes its name from its lightness and great maneuverability, reminiscent of the popular horse-drawn carriages of the time, called “cabriolets”. It offers ergonomic support for pleasant sitting. The convertible armchair often finds its place in living rooms or libraries, where it becomes the symbol of refinement and the French art of living. Here again, it is a classic revisited many times. For example, with our range of Igloo armchairs: https://camerus.com/produits/assises/fauteuils/igloo-145400.
In conclusion, these furniture with crazy names are not content to be simple utilitarian objects. Through evocative names like “The Toad Armchair” or “The Bill Sweet”, these pieces of furniture transcend their primary function to become decorative elements in their own right. They remind us that creativity and imagination are at the heart of design, and that each piece can stand the test of time and become a source of inspiration and fascination.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonheur-du-jour
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confident
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiscret
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_gigogne
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergere
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guéridon
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crapaud_(siège)
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabriolet_(fauteuil)