The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions, and Politics
Volume I, Number 5, May 1809
Sofa or French Bed
Plate 21
Sofa or French Bed
The frame of this piece of furniture is of mahogany, the ornaments executed in metal gilt; the cushion, bolsters, and ends, are covered with white satin; the outsides of the ends in blue, to suit the drapery suspended over the couch, having ornaments in gold-coloured velvet placed on them: a gold-coloured silk fringe is fixed on the scrolls. Over the couch is suspended a canopy, composed of ornamented gold moldings, a Vitrurian scroll occupying the frieze. The whole of these are carved in wood, and gilt, after the manner of our moulu, the ground being of blue velvet. A dome, composed of bold quilling, and covered with blue satin, surmounted with a coronet, carved and gilt, terminates the whole.
The furniture if of blue satin, lined with white lute-string, and should be trimmed with a narrow gold edging. A deep valance, after the Grecian taste, of blue velvet, bordered with gold-coloured velvet and ornaments, with a French fringe and tassels, completes this costly article, which should always be placed on a platform, covered with carpet the same as the room. A pedestal, painted as marble, is placed on one side, and ornamented with or moulu, serving as a table. The dome of the bed has a strong iron plate attached to it, with hooks, which slip into sockets fixed in the wall, whereby it may be put up and taken down at pleasure, leaving only the sofa.
