Antique Bergere
An antique bergere brings enclosed comfort and classic cane work into a room, offering deep-seated relaxation framed in rich timber.
Antique Bergere
An antique bergere is an enclosed upholstered armchair, often featuring panelled cane work on the back and sides, designed for comfort.
Buyers meet various iterations on this page, ranging from nineteenth century library chairs in mahogany to French giltwood and painted salon suites.
The form extends across distinct periods, incorporating Regency library chairs, Edwardian tub chairs, and twentieth century French sofas.
Materials and construction
Maker construction relies heavily on solid hardwoods like mahogany, walnut, and oak, shaped into tub and library chair frames.
Caning techniques create split cane and woven side panels, paired with brass details and loose cushions filled with feathers or covered in fabric, velvet, and leather.
Antique Bergere Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for bergere among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature mahogany, walnut, and oak frames paired with cane, leather, and velvet across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Assessing quality
Quality separates through the crispness of timber carving, the tightness and regularity of the woven cane panels, and the integrity of original paint or giltwood finishes.
The refinement of period stylistic details, from Louis XV curves to Regency lines, dictates the distinction between standard room seating and finer salon pieces.
Henri Jacob·James Shoolbred
The Antique Bergere Glossary
- Bergere
- An enclosed upholstered armchair with a wooden frame and cane panels.
- Caning
- A woven plant material technique utilised for the back and sides of chairs.
- Giltwood
- Timber treated with a thin layer of gold leaf, typical of French decorative seating.
- Tub chair
- An armchair featuring a rounded, enclosed backrest that curves continuously into the arms.
- Duchesse brisee
- A two or three part chaise longue ensemble comprising a chair and matching footstool.
Antique Bergere: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an antique bergere?
An antique bergere is an upholstered armchair with enclosed sides, typically incorporating woven cane panels into its wooden frame.
These pieces appeared in various forms, including library armchairs, tub chairs, and larger salon suites.
How do I identify a French bergere?
French bergeres often display giltwood or original paint finishes, alongside stylistic markers from the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods.
Carved wooden frames and curvilinear forms distinguish them from British library equivalents.
Where were these chairs used?
These chairs served primarily as comfortable seating in libraries, drawing rooms, and chateaux.
Their enclosed sides offered protection from draughts while reading or resting.
How do I care for cane work?
Cane work requires gentle dusting and occasional light moisture to prevent the natural material from drying out and brittle breakage.
Keeping the chairs away from direct heat sources preserves the strength of the woven panels.