



History of the
Bergere
Louis XV (1730-1760)
senuous, feminine, asymettrical, playful
One of our favorite designs, the Bergere Chair dates back to the reign of King Louis XV. It was a time of enlightenment, the Siecle des Lumieres as the French called it, an era of peace, prosperity and change. Women's place in society was changing and their influence could be found in the designs of the time. The Bergere Chair was created to be wider and deeper than a traditional armchair, with a thick seat cushion, and padding on the armrests, perfect for lounging. Today, this timeless piece remains a classic for its comfortable, yet beautiful design.
For hundereds of years, French furniture was made to be grand and bold, but not particularly comfortable. Much like today, fashion was informed by the wealthiest people and this meant that Kings and their Court defined what was à la mode. Prior to King Louis XV, Kings were the only people permitted to sit in armchairs in Versailles, but that all changed with the advent of the Bergere. Originally designed by Jean-Baptiste Tilliard, the bergere is a “curved armchair with a low seat and an exposed wood frame that was highly carved and often gilded, and included fabric covered panels between the arms and seat.”*
What makes a Bergere?






Bergère À La Reine
Bergère en Cabriolet
Bergère Marquise

Types of Bergeres
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The bergere is an enduring symbol of comfort and elegance & remains a chic design choice today.

Another revelation of the time was that furniture finally gave way to comfort. The name Bergere derives from the French word berger, meaning sheperdess. This iconic chair design incorporated innovative new technologies to make it the most comfortable seat of it’s time and was meant to refrence a slower, more pastoral life of leisure—hence the name. Bergeres were created to be wider and deeper, designed for lounging, and included springs


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elegance, comfort, and refinement

Hotel de la Marine (above) and
The Petite Trianon (right).

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and a thick seat cushion as well as padding on the armrests for maximum comfort.

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*Source: Lolo French Antiques