Antique French settee or sofa

A long couch dating from the late 17th century, similar to a sofa with arms at either end. Unlike the upholstered sofa, however, the settee usually has a shaped wooden splat back, similar to dining chairs. In Australia, any small couch is sometimes known as a settee.

An upholstered couch, based on the 18th century French canape, often with a high back and shaped front, usually standing upon cabriole, turned or sabre legs. Distinguished, perhaps, from the full stuffed over couch, the sofa usually had a band of polished show wood around the seat, back and arm frames. During the Regency, many sofas were made based on the principles of the Classical Revival. Such sofas are noted for their deeply scrolled arms and curved sabre legs, usually reeded. Their influence can be traced through the many colonial day beds and miner's couches, however humble by comparison, more... made during the later part of the 19th century. less...