Couch

A couch, later known as a daybed, was an elongated seat with a single back at one end. Derived from the French lit de repos, the form became popular in America in the last quarter of the 17th century. While produced throughout the first half of the 18th century, the couch was, according to contemporary household inventories, rather expensive and considered a luxury item. Used as an extra bed, a bench to accommodate several people, or a seat for solitary reclining, such a couch was, like many 17th- and 18th-century furniture forms, highly versatile. While some had fixed backs, others were hinged and could be adjusted through the use of chains. Some seats were made of rush or cane, while others had woven fabric straps and upholstered cushions. Fabric covered pads or “squabs” like the modern one included here were used to cushion the seat and back. With its bannister back with arched crest rail and its robust turned legs and stretchers, this piece is typical of Pennsylvania-made forms. There is a similar couch in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.