French Sofa
Ooh La La, find your French Sofa info here.
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 GILT french provincial TAPESTRY SOFA $1,850.00 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 13:45:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,850.00 |
 FRENCH CARVED MAHOGANY COUCH SOFA 993 $743.75 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 14:34:33 PDT Buy It Now for only: $743.75 |
 Sofa Cushion Pillow Cover French Toile Vintage Look Fabric Red Black Printed $23.69 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 14:44:50 PDT |
 french sofa we can ulphostry any color $1,200.00 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 18:13:54 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,500.00 |
 VINTAGE french shabby chic NARROW SOFA TABLE DINING TABLE CABRIOLET LEGS $99.00 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 18:37:05 PDT |
 48006 4 pc French Sofa Settee Couch Chair Parlor Set $1,275.00 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 20:24:18 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,275.00 |
 1960 4x5 ORIG NEG Furniture French Prov Sofa 966 $18.88 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 20:41:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: $18.88 |
 1960 4x5 ORIG NEG Furniture French Prov Sofa 967 $18.88 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 20:49:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: $18.88 |
 Ethan Allen legacy country french settee couch sofa love seat $899.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 5:51:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $999.00 |
 antique French carved aluminum out door patio porch sofa love seat couch $599.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 5:51:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: $599.00 |
 vintage french regency faux bamboo sofa hall table $599.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 5:53:55 PDT Buy It Now for only: $599.00 |
 thomasville country french carved sofa hall foyer table $439.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 5:53:57 PDT Buy It Now for only: $439.00 |
 VTG Painted Chic French Salon Sofa Settee w Down Cushion Local Pick Up Only $499.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 6:12:41 PDT |
 Vintage French Style 1970s Sofa Couch Excellent Condition Button Tuft Long NICE $900.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 8:53:52 PDT Buy It Now for only: $900.00 |
 CHIC SHABBY FRENCH STYLE paris NATURAL LINENGREY OAK SOFA93WIDE $2,135.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 9:20:30 PDT Buy It Now for only: $2,135.00 |
 Antique Carved Parlor French Sofa Couch Victorian Louis XVI Provincial Country $299.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 9:20:32 PDT |
 Antiqued Ebony Brown Leather French 3 pc Sofa Set $6,281.19 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 11:52:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6,281.19 |
 Antiqued Ebony Brown Leather French Louis Sofa $3,673.47 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 12:14:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3,673.47 |
 OLD HICKORY TANNERY French Country Gold and Green Velveteen Couch Detrtoit New $2,200.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 13:07:44 PDT |
 Tuscan French Country Style Decor Furniture SCROLLS Sofa Entry Hall Table Buffet $646.80 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 13:09:33 PDT Buy It Now for only: $646.80 |
 Carved French Sofa Loveseat Red with Gold Accents $3,512.61 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 13:30:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3,512.61 |
 Red Tuscan French Country Style Furniture Sofa Entry Hall Table Buffet Cabinet $678.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 13:37:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: $678.00 |
 A attractive vintage guipure lace edged french linen sofa back $2.37 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 14:33:38 PDT |
 Antique Vintage French Provincial Sofa Couch and Chair Set $995.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 17:03:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,650.00 |
 vintage country French chi sofa couch settee $799.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 18:45:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: $799.00 |
 Elegant French Settee Sofa Hand Carved Mahogany Silk Upholstered $1,495.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:17:36 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,895.00 |
 Vintage 1950s French Provincial Circular Sofa $1,195.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:19:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,195.00 |
 Antique French Painted Gesso Shabby Carved Roses Settee 1 Sofa 2 Chairs Chic $800.00 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:30:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1,500.00 |
 1956 Erton modern chair sofa photos French print ad $8.49 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 20:36:47 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.49 |
 Antique French Louis XVI gold Chic and Shabby Rose Burlap Settee Sofa $999.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 23:56:54 PDT |
 Antique French Louis XVI gold Chic and Shabby Burlap Settee Sofa Tapestry $999.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 23:56:54 PDT |
 LIVING ROOM SET FRENCH STYLE LUIS XV SOFA 2 CHAIRS $400.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 3:42:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: $500.00 |
 French sofa Excelllent condition $2,000.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 5:09:45 PDT |
Sofas Down Through The Ages
There has been a great many styles and kinds of sofas down through the ages. These ubiquitous pieces of household furniture have a far more ancient history than many might believe, as a matter of fact. There have been versions of a sofa as a item in a household for literally thousands and thousands of years. Today, almost no home is without this very versatile and sometimes comfortable item.
The origins of the word 'sofa' come from an Arabic word used to describe the same kind of furniture. Arabs referred to a long reclining bench as a 'suffah, ' and 17th century travelers from Europe who were roaming about the Orient and the Arabian Peninsula or Middle East, in particular, noticed that they reclined or sat on a bench that was somewhat similar.
The two words 'sofa' and 'couch' are fairly interchangeable in modern day English, though the origins of 'couch' comes from the French word 'coucher, ' which is taken to mean something related to reclining or lying down. However, the French themselves did not refer to their own version of the sofa as a 'coucher.' Rather, they called their piece of furniture a canape.
Now, that particular word in the English language is used to describe something known as a finger food and not a sofa or couch. However, English craftsmen in the 15th century to the French word for the household item that they were creating that would eventually become the sofa and applied the French term 'coucher' to it. Naturally, it eventually became shortened to the word 'couch.'
Nowadays, most people are completely unaware that the word 'sofa' has its origin among the Arab-speaking people in the Orient, though they might suspect that the word 'couch' is possibly French in its origins. Regardless, these fascinating pieces of furniture actually go back much farther into the mists of history than just the pieces of furniture the French or English were playing around with.
In fact, ancient Romans and Greeks -- all men -- have their own version of the sofa. These benches also reclined and it was there that the men in Greek and Roman society would eat their dinners and take their ease. Women were not allowed to make use of the Greek or Roman version of the sofa, though. For them, it was a chair or something similar. One can see the injustice in this.
Sofa development since the 16th century can mainly be credited to English and German craftsmen. Both looked at how to make something that people could sit on that would also be comfortable. They would construct a wooden frame and then begin to pad it with various natural materials like bird feathers. Of course, all of these materials would need to be wrapped in something durable and then covered with something attractive.
Most scholars and historians trace the development of the modern sofa to that era. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was rare that a middle class or even lower class family did not have a sofa in their own household, and these very versatile and highly attractive pieces of furniture soon became extremely important. Ranking just behind beds, sofas probably are the second most popular piece of furniture.
About the Author
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is armoire, kitchen sale and outdoor furniture sale.
