King Edward VII, a name synonymous with opulence and a rather robust appetite for pleasure, is famously linked to a rather unique piece of furniture: the love chair, or as it was elegantly known in French, the siège d’amour. This wasn’t just any chair; it was a bespoke creation designed to cater to the king’s, shall we say, generous proportions and his equally generous desires for simultaneous companionship. But beyond the whispers of royal indulgence, how did this intriguing contraption actually function? Let’s delve into the mechanics of the love chair and uncover the secrets behind its design.
The Royal Rationale: Why a Love Chair for Edward VII?
To understand the necessity of the siège d’amour, we need to understand a little about the king himself. By the time Edward VII ascended to the throne in 1902, his physique was… substantial. History paints a picture of a man who thoroughly enjoyed the finer things in life, particularly when it came to food and drink. Contemporary accounts detail a lifestyle of lavish ten-course meals, multiple times a day, accompanied by copious amounts of fine wines and champagne. This lifestyle resulted in a waistline that reportedly measured a considerable 48 inches, and a condition that would today be classified as clinical obesity.
This burgeoning waistline presented certain logistical challenges, especially in the realm of romantic pursuits. The love chair wasn’t merely a symbol of royal decadence; it was a practical solution. It was designed to allow the king, affectionately nicknamed “Bertie,” to engage in intimate relations with not one, but two partners simultaneously, without the risk of causing them discomfort or, indeed, without discomfort to himself. The chair was commissioned from Louis Soubrier, a highly regarded cabinetmaker of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, ensuring that even this piece of functional furniture was crafted with the utmost quality and aesthetic appeal befitting a British monarch.
Decoding the Design: How the Love Chair Facilitated Royal Pleasures
The famed siège d’amour resided in Le Chabanais, a luxurious and discreet Parisian brothel frequented by the elite. This location itself speaks volumes about the chair’s intended purpose. But how did it actually work? Imagine King Edward VII standing upright. The chair was designed to accommodate two women at once. One woman would recline on her back on the chair’s surface, positioned in front of the king. A second woman would then be positioned beneath her, also facing upwards.
The ingenious part of the design lay in the bronze stirrups intricately carved into the chair’s frame. These stirrups were not merely decorative; they were functional elements designed to support the women’s feet, ensuring they remained securely and comfortably in position during the act. This clever arrangement allowed King Edward VII to engage with both partners simultaneously while minimizing any physical strain on himself and ensuring the comfort and positioning of his companions. It also, rather practically, kept his stomach conveniently out of the way, further facilitating the encounter.
The Love Chair’s Legacy: From Brothel to Museum
The original siège d’amour is shrouded in a bit of mystery. It’s believed to have been sold in a private auction sometime in the 1990s, presumably finding its way into the collection of a discreet individual with a taste for historical curiosities. However, the legacy of the love chair lives on through replicas.
A replica of this fascinating piece of furniture was displayed at the Musée D’Orsay in Paris from 2015 to 2016 as part of the exhibition ‘Splendour and Misery: Images Of Prostitution 1850-1910’. This exhibition placed the chair within a broader historical context, exploring themes of social history and representation. Furthermore, for those with a particular interest in the mechanics of pleasure, another replica can be viewed at the Sex Machines Museum in Prague, ensuring that the design of Edward VII’s love chair continues to intrigue and perhaps even inspire.
Beyond the Chair: Edward VII’s Erotic Furniture Collection
The siège d’amour was not an isolated indulgence. It appears King Edward VII had a penchant for bespoke furniture designed to enhance his amorous adventures. Another notable piece from his collection at Le Chabanais was a luxurious copper bath. This wasn’t just any bath; it was adorned with a figurehead depicting a half-woman, half-swan, and was reportedly filled to the brim with champagne for particularly decadent bathing sessions with multiple partners. While perhaps less mechanically complex than the love chair, this champagne bath further illustrates the king’s commitment to luxurious and unconventional pleasures.
In conclusion, King Edward VII’s love chair was more than just a quirky historical anecdote. It was a custom-designed solution to a very real, albeit rather unique, problem. It reveals not only the king’s personal indulgences but also the ingenuity applied to create furniture that catered to specific needs and desires. The siège d’amour stands as a testament to a fascinating intersection of royal history, personal eccentricity, and the enduring human pursuit of pleasure.
