A Polish bed (; ), alternatively known in English as a polonaise, is a type of small- canopy bed which most likely originated in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

and became a centrepiece of 18th-century French furniture. 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 __NOTOC__ A four-poster bed or tester bed is a Bed (furniture), bed with four vertical columns, one in each corner, that support a tester, or upper (usually rectangular) panel. This tester or panel will often have rails to allow curtains to be ...

, 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. Nowadays, any type of curtained daybed or couch is known under this term. 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 France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

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 St ...

, who married

Louis XV of France Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), 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 reached maturity (then defi ...

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 exoti ...

. These richly decorated

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

beds were generally designated for the wealthier upper classes and

aristocracy Aristocracy (; ) is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocracy (class), aristocrats. Across Europe, the aristocracy exercised immense Economy, economic, Politics, political, and soc ...

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 ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

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 ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

File:ChateaudUsseLit.jpg, King's bed,

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

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 The Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas (, ) is a Rococo nobility palace, historically important in the city. It is located in one of the most central locations in the city of Valencia (Spain). It is a stately mansion that was the property of the ...

. 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 ( ; ; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Liège Province, province of Liège, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east o ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

References

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