- Anthony Quervelle, Philadelphia manner of
- American Classical Carved Mahogany Meridienne, 1850
- Mahogany
- 39 x 71 x 25.5 in (99.06 x 180.34 x 64.77 cm)
- Inv: 4033 Von Schmidt Famil...
This 1850 circa Meridienne is popularly known in the United States as a fainting couch which a traditionally raised back and side at one end. This example has a scrolled crest rail, scrolled arm and rounded arm, carved molded seat rail, foliate bracketed paw feet
The "fainting couch" style was at its height of popularity in the 19th century as a revival of ancient furniture styles.
The term "fainting couch" is not documented as being in use until the 20th century. There is nothing to suggest in advertising of the Victorian era that any article of furniture was created for people to use when feeling faint, and this should only be considered a myth.
Popular speculation explains the predominance of what is now called a "fainting couch" in the 19th century as a result of women fainting because their corsets were too tight, restricting blood flow. This does not have historical support; it has been proposed instead that these "day beds" (as they were referred to at the time) were in imitation of Roman and Grecian daybed designs.
Other Work From Collections of the Von Schmidt Family Trust
