There was a time when every elegant Victorian home had a chaperone or conversation seat and we have a splendid example coming to auction.
On January 12 Hansons will be offering the contents of Georgian property Haddon House in Shenstone, near Lichfield, Staffs. It boasts an eclectic mix of traditional English and French 19th century furniture including a Victorian chaperone/conversation seat, estimate £600-£800.
These began as two or three-way chairs designed to allow people to sit down together but apart by virtue of their serpentine design. For example, a governess could sit with a young couple to ensure nothing untoward occurred – all facing in different directions!
Conceived in 19th century France, seats were conjoined in a serpentine shape to allow people to chat discreetly. Without a table creating distance, they could speak intimately but without physical contact.
In France, the two-seater was known as ‘le confidant’. It was intended for confidential conversations between political allies. Taking on a propellor-like form, three-way chairs were known as the ‘indiscret’ (indiscreet), in honour of the third person who could listen into private affairs. Napoleon distributed them throughout his ministers’ apartments in the Louvre.
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