Pair of sunbathing armchairs, Faye Billot, Circa 1900

This elegant set of rattan sunloungers evokes the winter garden fashions of the last century. With their traditional caning on the seat, the armchairs combine several perfectly mastered techniques. The raw rattan frames, both woven and tightly caned, bear witness to the furniture’s remarkable finish. Light and functional, this ensemble combines harmonious curved lines with a rational use of material that is perfectly suited to refined interiors as well as verandas and other conservatories.

Rattan furniture developed in the second half of the 19th century, especially under the Second Empire, with the fashion for exoticism. The popularity of rattan grew in tandem with the rise of tourism and the proliferation of fashionable holiday resorts. Members of the imperial family, notably Princess Mathilde, endowed their palaces and residences with winter gardens featuring fanciful, nature-oriented designs. As a result, new materials such as bamboo and rattan were introduced into decoration, quickly becoming essential elements of a fashion that enjoyed unprecedented success.