Bergère

Not to be confused with Bergères, a commune in north-central France.

A replica bergère

A bergère (French for shepherdess)^[1] is an enclosed upholstered French armchair (fauteuil)^[2] with an upholstered back and armrests on upholstered frames.^[3] The seat frame is over-upholstered, but the rest of the wooden framing is exposed: it may be moulded or carved, and of beech, painted or gilded, or of fruitwood, walnut or mahogany with a waxed finish. Padded elbowrests may stand upon the armrests. A bergère is fitted with a loose, but tailored, seat cushion. It is designed for lounging in comfort, with a deeper, wider seat than that of a regular fauteuil, though the bergères by Bellangé in the White House are more formal. A bergère in the eighteenth century was essentially a meuble courant, designed to be moved about to suit convenience, rather than being ranged permanently formally along the walls as part of the decor.^[4]

Origin

The fanciful name, "shepherdess chair", was coined in mid-eighteenth century Paris, where the model developed without a notable break from the late-seventeenth century chaise de commodité, a version of the wing chair, whose upholstered "wings" shielding the face from fireplace heat or from draughts were retained in the bergère à oreilles ("with ears"), or, fancifully, bergère confessionale, as if the occupant were hidden from view, as in a confessional.

A bergère may have a flat, raked back, in which case it is à la reine, or, more usually in Louis XV furnishings, it has a coved back, en cabriolet. A bergère with a low coved back that sweeps without a break into the armrests is a marquise.^[5] Appearing first in Paris during the Régence (1715–23), the form reaches its full development in the unifying curves of the rococo style, then continues in a more architectural rectilinear style in the Louis XVI, Directoire, and French and American Empire styles.

History

18th century

Coming from the 17th-century chaise de commodité (French for "wing chair"), the bergère evolved by taking rigid structures to emphasize comfort and informality, reflecting the Rococo aesthetics and French culture. ^[6]

Variations

• Bergère à la Reine - Has a high, flat back with straight arms; meant to be formal and regal.
• Bergère en Cabriolet - More rounded, has a lower back and arms; mean to be cozy and enveloping.
• Bergère Marquise - A more wider Bergère meant for sitting two persons; purposed to be more social and fashionable.^[7]

Characteristics

The bergère has fully upholstered sides, with open wooden frames that are carved or gilded. Its deep and wide seat with a loose cushion accommodates the heavy dresses of its era. Its legs are usually short and cabriole-shaped, and its materials have a rich range between silk, velvet, as well as modern leather or cotton in contemporary iterations. ^[8]

Significance

In France, the bergère became a staple for noble and aristocratic salons, promoting its comfort and sociability. Its design was meant for relaxed interactions, moving away from the past formal seating and into a new era for supporting conversational spaces. It influenced English designs, blending its French elegance with the comfort of the British. Today, bergères still continue to exist in modern interior spaces, often in newer fabrics that take traditional design with contemporary aesthetics.^[9]

See also

• Cabriolet (furniture)

Notes

1. "Definition of BERGÈRE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
2. The inventory after the death of Mme de Pompadour lists a fauteuil en bergère. Pierre Verlet, French Furniture and Interior decoration of the 18th Century (Fribourg: Office du Livre 1977:177).
3. The fauteuil differs in having open armrests.
4. Verlet 1977, "Furniture of comfort and elegance" pp 173ff; the bergère is discussed pp. 177–79.
5. Model timeline in Madeleine Jarry, Le siège français (Fribourg: Office du Livre) 1973, following p. 356
6. Simon (2024-11-08). "The Bergère Chair: Evolution of French Comfort and Elegance in Furniture Design". Encyclopedia of Design. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
7. "The Different Types of Bergère Chairs and Its History2025". 2024-04-24. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
8. "What is a Bergere Chair?". HomeQuestionsAnswered. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
9. "What is a Bergere Chair? (Interior Design explained)". roomai.com. Retrieved 2025-08-12.

References

• Abbott, James Archer (2007). Jansen Furniture. New York: Acanthus Press. ISBN 978-0-926494-45-9.
• Pegler, Martin M; Carboni, Ron (2006). The Fairchild Dictionary of Interior Design (2nd ed.). New York: Fairchild Fashion Group. ISBN 978-1-56367-444-0.