# Different Types & Styles of Sofas
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Duncan Phyfe
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Anyone who owns a Duncan Phyfe sofa knows that it is indeed a Duncan Phyfe. Mr. Phyfe was a premier American designer and carpenter. He made a name for himself in the late 18th century in the United States. His designs were easy to spot. The Duncan Phyfe sofa is no different. The sofa has a rolled solid wood head across the entire length. The arms of the sofas are typically rolled and show extraordinary workmanship in the solid wood facing of the arms. The feet are an inverted cyma recta and are generally fluted or filleted.
Madame Récamier
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Madame Récamier was among other preoccupations, a socialite in France during the 19th century. Polite society across Europe and America at that time required that fainting women be hastily rescued. It was common for a woman to exhibit the affected "faint" at the mention of an estranged lover or familial troubles. In this instance, seating was inconvenient. Madame Récamier designed and owned the first stylized "fainting" sofa. It is a sofa with one arm that wraps the sofa at the head and part of one side with a soft curve. Many copies are on the market today.
Chippendale Camelback
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Thomas Chippendale was a master carpenter in Britain during the 18th century. His workshop produced his furniture designs, and he was quickly accepted as the gentleman's designer. One of the Chippendale sofas that is copied from century to century with little innovation is the Chippendale camelback sofa. The originals had a back that scrolled downward at the arms. Thus, a hump was formed and many times the hump was complemented with a curved head rail.
Chesterfield
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The Chesterfield sofa was one of the first sofas used in palatial settings in Britain. It has remained on the design scene without historical interruption. However, the drawback to the Chesterfield for contemporary architecture is the size. Compared with other sofas, the Chesterfield is enormous. It measures more than 6 feet long. It is simply a box with a back and two sides. All Chesterfield sofas are readily recognized due to their size and the signature tufting of the design.
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