The Chairmaker Part III
The Berlin chairmakers manufacture the following chairs in particular:
1. The common chairs distinguish themselves from side and parlour chairs. The underframe of the side chair (Tafelstuhl), fig. XVII, including the thickness of the seat, is 18 inches high. The height of the back depends on the fashion, and currently in this area a lower back is fashionable. These chairs will generally be woven with cane. The parlour chair (Kammerstuhl) comes between the side chair and the next arm chair (Fauteil) that follows. Its underframe is approximately 14 to 15 inches high, but broader in the seat than the side chair, its back short, and according to present fashion, hollow or round in its breadth. It can be caned or upholstered and takes it place generally in the ladies' bedroom.
2. The stool (Tabouret) is a chair without a back, caned or upholstered, and is 16 inches high.
3. The arm chair (Fautiel), fig. XVIII, is called in Berlin the Invalid (Kröpel) or Invalid Chair (Krüppelstuhl). It differs from common chairs in part in that it's broader, and sometimes also lower, its underframe being generally only 14 to 15 inches high. The most important difference, however, is that the armchair has arm rests, a & b, and posts, b & c. There are currently three kinds of armchairs in fashion. In some the armrest is, as in fig. XVIIIb, bent as the horn of a ram. In contrast, the arm and support of the so called French and Parisian arm chairs have a different profile that one can best become familiar with by observation. The Parisian armchair, like the parlour chair, is given a hollow back. To this type of chair also belongs the dressing chair (Toilettstuhl), which is used in the distinguished ladies' room when being dressed. It differs from the armchair only in that its supports are not as in c, fig. XVIII, [but] rather mortised next to the back as in d, so that she is not hindered when dressing. In addition, it receives casters on its feet. Generally, it's covered with a cushion. All of these armchairs will be caned or also upholstered.
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