What Is a Grecian Couch?

Grecian Couch

• Designed for comfort and relaxation, the Grecian couch has taken on different names since its first appearance during Greco-Roman times. Also known as the day bed, chaise lounge and fainting couch, each new rendition reflects the tastes and periods in which they were crafted. Over the centuries, the Grecian couch evolved into different styles, though the original design remained. Today’s chaise lounge rendition appears as a long-seated cushioned chair with a high back for reclining, which holds to the original basic design from the Greek era.

Status Symbol

• The Grecian couch became a symbol of royalty in the period between the Sheraton and Victorian periods. In appearance, the couch became a Victorian rendition of the original Grecian design. For decorum purposes, the Grecian couch—a half-back sofa with a six-foot extended seat -- replaced the more bulky framed day bed side chair of the times. Within America, the 19th century Neoclassicism style sought to revive furniture pieces from the ancient Renaissance and Empire styles of previous periods.

American Design

• Brothers John and Hugh Finlay created the American design of the Grecian couch in 1803 and first sold it as a furniture item from their Baltimore area shop. Hugh Finlay, in particular, obtained the idea for the American piece from his travels abroad in Europe and London. The American design was based on the original Greek/Roman pieces, only with shorter legs to suit the tastes of the 19th century elite in America. The Grecian couch became one of the more famous furniture designs of the American Neoclassicism style.

Gender Preferences

• Also known as the “fainting couch,” this label corresponds with how women took to the elegant shape and design of the couch, which was used for “fainting,” relaxing or so-called dizzy spells. The upper class women of the American Neoclassicism period took to the dainty design of the Grecian couch, as opposed to the men’s preference for the day-bed style, to the extent that Grecian couches commonly appeared as part of a woman’s bedroom furniture ensemble.