Polish bed
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A Polish bed (Template:Langx; Script error: No such module "IPA".), alternatively known in English as a polonaise, is a type of small-canopy bed which most likely originated in Poland and became a centrepiece of 18th-century French furniture.[1] 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).[2] 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.[3] Nowadays, any type of curtained daybed or couch is known under this term.Template:Citation needed The Polish bed shares many similarities with the lit à la turque, however Turkish-styled beds contain two scrolling ends and the canopy is generally off-center, and suspended from one side only.
They were popularized in France by Polish-born queen Marie Leszczyńska, who married Louis XV in 1725.[4] Hence, it became a principal piece of the so-called Louis XV furniture.[4] These richly decorated rococo beds were generally designated for the wealthier upper classes and aristocracy that resided in palaces,[5] 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 in France. The polonaise should not be confused with the lit à la Duchesse where the canopy is only supported from one end.[6]
Gallery
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A Polish bed in one of the royal chambers at Versailles
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King's bed, Château d'Ussé
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Simpler Dutch version
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Louis XV style, replica
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Louis XVI style, replica
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Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas. Poles follow catenary curve of the curtains, and are thus invisible.
