When you think of French Country Style the phrase "casual sophistication" comes to mind. The French just have a way of making even their country furniture elegant and graceful. This is evident in the lovely cane settees that really seem to embody that combination.
The settee is more formal and less comfortable than a canapé or sofa and generally seats 2 people.Caned settees and canapés, fitted with loose seat cushions, were extremely fashionable under Louis XV. They were less formal, airier, and cooler than the typical highly ornate styles made famous by the French Court that featured seats heavily upholstered with silk or tapestry. Sometimes cane settees were even referred to as peasant furniture because of this simple ornamentation and line. Hallmarks of this furniture style include distressed off white paint, lightly stained wood tones (such as oak or elm), rustic carvings and cane panel inserts instead of upholstery.
Cane strips derived from the peeled bark or skin of the rattan vine native to Indonesia have been used in weaving objects since ancient times. Thanks to the bustling trade with Asia around 1660, caned furniture began to appear in Holland, England and France.
The first French cane settees were low backed bench like seats or banquettes.These romantic cane settees immediately exude vintage French charm when placed in a room. The whitewash finish gives it the patina of a treasured family heirloom.
There are three different finish styles for the cane settee, painted or whitewashed, gilded, and natural. All are beautiful and bring a definitive French country look to a room. It's hard to say which is my favorite. First let's look at the painted examples.
This grey painted cane settee is such a nice size and can be displayed in a number of places. It looks chic in a boudoir when placed at the foot of a bed.
Cane settees are a staple of French Provincial decorating, especially in light finishes.
The whitewashed cane settee makes the perfect banquette seating for this French Country style dining room.
A vintage Louis XV Cane Back Settee in Gold and Cream.
This gorgeous piece features an airy cane backing and rustic exposed trim and hand-carved details that have been slightly burnished. If you like the look of gilding but want a more relaxed look, try a softer burnished finish.
Even though it is gilded, this French cane settee has the ability to be so sophisticated yet farmhouse at the same time. It depends on how you accessorize and decorate around it.
via Pinterest
If your style is an antique and modern mix, try a trendy, oversized floral print to cover your cane settee.
The natural cane settee is a style that evokes images of lavender fields and the rustic, romantic, old world charm associated with the French Provincial lifestyle.
source unknown
Natural French cane settee........relaxed elegance at its best!
Blind or French caning is when there are holes for hand caning but they are not drilled all the way through the frame. Each strand of cane is individually pegged/plugged at every hole. This kind of caning is extremely time consuming and costly.
A beautiful antique French Provincial caned settee in walnut .
This natural cane settee is rustic, old world and welcoming.
Early 18th century carved and detailed beechwood cane back settee/sofa.
The unpainted French cane settee has a rustic elegant look that works well with stone and other natural elements.
The cane settee makes it possible to enhance your entire home decorating with just a single piece of furniture. They make that much of a statement.
via Pinterest
Use these timeless French cane settees, canapes, and sofas in the boudoir and living room. Or make it the statement piece in your entry hall. Wherever you choose to put it, the cane settee will steal the spotlight.
Click here to see the previous post
This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer
