What is a late victorian settee?

A late victorian settee is a nineteenth-century upholstered or wooden seat designed for two or more people, encompassing styles from button-backed couches to inlaid mahogany salon sofas. These pieces reflect the eclectic design tastes of the late eighteen-hundreds, drawing on Georgian, Sheraton, and Gothic revival influences.

Where should I place a settee?

A settee fits well in a living room, a large hallway, or at the foot of a bedroom bed as a functional decorative element. Smaller boudoir settees and chaise longues suit dressing rooms or reading corners where space is limited.

How do I identify a revival style?

Revival styles borrow decorative vocabulary and structural forms from earlier eras, such as Sheraton, Chippendale, or George II designs, reinterpreted by late nineteenth-century makers. Examining the timber characteristics and joinery helps distinguish these later interpretations from genuine older pieces.

What woods were commonly used?

Makers of this era favoured dense hardwoods including mahogany, walnut, oak, rosewood, and satinwood for visible frame construction. These timbers were frequently polished to a high sheen or enhanced with marquetry and decorative inlay.