Polish bed

For other uses, see Polonaise (disambiguation).

A Polish bed (French: Lit à la polonaise; French: [pɔlɔnɛz]), 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.

A historical 18th-century Polish bed (lit à la polonaise) at Chambéry, France

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.^{[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 of France 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.
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  A simpler design at Hôtel d'Ansembourg, Liège, Belgium