A Polish bed (french: Lit à la polonaise; ), alternatively known in English as a polonaise, is a type of small-

canopy bed A canopy bed is a bed with a canopy, which is usually hung with bed curtains. Functionally, the canopy and curtains keep the bed warmer, and screen it from light and sight. On more expensive beds, they may also be elaborately ornamental. History ...

which most likely originated in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

and became a centrepiece of 18th-century

French furniture French furniture comprises both the most sophisticated furniture made in Paris for king and court, aristocrats and rich upper bourgeoisie, on the one hand, and French provincial furniture made in the provincial cities and towns many of which, like ...

. The curtain is topped with an elaborate crownlike centrepiece, which is connected to the four vertical corner poles of the bed frame (which are usually curved). Unlike the four-poster bed, the canopy is much smaller than the bed. Historically, a Polish bed was often placed on its side against the wall to serve as a

daybed Daybeds are used as beds as well as for lounging, reclining, and seating in common rooms. It may be considered a form of multifunctional furniture. Their frames can be made out of wood, metal or a combination of wood and metal. They are a cross ...

. Nowadays, any type of curtained

or couch is known under this term. The Polish bed shares many similarities with the ''

lit à la turque The Lit à la Turque, a bed with two scrolling ends and a side baldachin, was one of many products of the 18th century. Due to the obsession with anything exotic or unusual from foreign countries, beds, furniture and other objects reflected this s ...

'', however Turkish-styled beds contain two scrolling ends and the canopy is generally off-center, and suspended from one side only. Polonaise bedding was possibly first observed at the Royal Castle in

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...

, at the time when Ottoman styles were fashionable across Europe. They were popularized in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

by Polish-born queen

Marie Leszczyńska Maria Karolina Zofia Felicja Leszczyńska (; ; 23 June 1703 – 24 June 1768), also known as Marie Leczinska, was Queen of France as the wife of King Louis XV from their marriage on 4 September 1725 until her death in 1768. The daughter of Sta ...

, who married

Louis XV of France Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...

in 1725. Hence, it became a principal piece of the so-called

Louis XV furniture The furniture of the Louis XV period (1715-1774) is characterized by curved forms, lightness, comfort and asymmetry; it replaced the more formal, boxlike and massive furniture of the Louis XIV style. It employed marquetry, using inlays of exotic w ...

. These richly decorated

rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

beds were generally designated for the wealthier upper classes and

aristocracy Aristocracy (, ) is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the el, αριστοκρατία (), meaning 'rule of the best'. At the time of the word' ...

that resided in palaces, however, canopies were also popular in many common homes (the warmth of the curtains was functional). The French propagated the design as ''lit à la polonaise''. Polish beds dating back to the period can be found in museums, most famous being the

Palace of Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...

in France. The polonaise should not be confused with the '' lit à la Duchesse'' where the canopy is only supported from one end.

Gallery

File:Château de Versailles, appartements de la Dauphine, chambre, lit, Nicolas Heurtaut.jpg, A Polish bed in one of the royal chambers at

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, ...

File:ChateaudUsseLit.jpg, King's bed,

Château d'Ussé Ussé is a castle in the Indre-et-Loire ''département'', in France. The stronghold at the edge of the Chinon forest overlooking the Indre Valley was first fortified in the eleventh century by the Norman ''seigneur'' of Ussé, Gueldin de Saumur, ...

File:Interieur slaapkamer met trap - Leens - 20373175 - RCE.jpg, Simpler Dutch version File:No0391baldaquin ateliers allot frères.jpg, Louis XV style, replica File:N°394 baldaquin Ovale.jpg, Louis XVI style, replica File:WLM14ES - PALACIO DEL MARQUÉS DE DOS AGUAS DE VALENCIA 05072008 174054 00087 - .jpg, Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas. Poles follow catenary curve of the curtains, and are thus invisible. File:Liège, Musée d'Ansembourg, premier étage08.jpg, A simpler design at Hôtel d'Ansembourg,

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far fro ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

References

{{Bedding Beds Sleep Rococo art Interior design Louis XV History of furniture