Vintage Blue Settee
A vintage blue settee brings colour and historic form to a room, offering practical seating shaped by centuries of revival design.
How they were made
Frames are constructed from wood materials including mahogany, walnut, beech, and painted timber, supporting upholstered or caned bodies.
Decorative details rely on carved woodwork, brass fittings, tassel trims, and button-backed textiles.
What varies in quality
Quality separates through the execution of carved woodwork on frames and the structural integrity of historical joinery.
The refinement of revival styles, from Chinese Chippendale to Louis XVI design, dictates the distinction between standard and superior examples.
One settee arrives with a literary past, linked directly to Daphne Du Maurier and her novel Rebecca.
The Vintage Blue Settee Glossary
- Bergère
- An enclosed upholstered armchair or sofa with wooden framing and cane panels. The style originates from eighteenth-century France and appears in later revival periods.
- Camelback
- A sofa style featuring an undulating, humped backrest profile reminiscent of a camel. This traditional silhouette remains popular across various revival designs.
- Chippendale
- A furniture style drawing on eighteenth-century English designs, often revived later with characteristic ball and claw legs or carved details.
Vintage Blue Settee: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a settee?
A settee is a medium-sized upholstered seat designed for multiple people, distinct from a full-scale sofa by its lighter proportions.
Historical examples often feature exposed wooden frames and decorative carving reflecting the period of their manufacture.
How do I date a settee?
Dating relies on examining the underlying wood, the joinery methods, and the stylistic vocabulary of the frame.
Revival pieces often borrow eighteenth-century motifs while utilising nineteenth-century or Edwardian construction techniques.
Where do I place a settee?
These pieces suit living rooms, bedrooms, and entrance halls where a compact seating option is required.
Their decorative backs and carved frames allow them to sit effectively away from walls.
What maintenance do they need?
Maintenance involves gentle dusting of wooden frames and appropriate care for antique textiles such as velvet and fabric.
Avoiding direct sunlight helps preserve both the timber finishes and the blue upholstery colours.