"From a secret to an indiscretion, there’s only the distance from a mouth to an ear."
Amédée Pichot (historian)
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Ever find yourself on a sofa and deep in conversation with a friend? Turned towards your partner, you may not be all that comfortable…
Fed up with conventional couches (one too many backaches perhaps?) talented 19th-century French woodworkers designed an alternative: a piece of furniture that allowed two people to comfortably chat, face to face, for hours. Good riddance to stiff necks!
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The piece they invented, a spiraling S-shaped chair, brought people together. Perfectly suited for close conversation, it allowed two intimates to swap their secrets. Its name? A no brainer! They called the seat the "Confidant."
When the piece was first introduced, decked-out, golden interiors were very à la mode. People particularly liked intensely colored, soft armchairs covered in heavy, velvety fabrics. The Confidant fit right in!
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Napoleon Joseph Quignon, chair known as the "Confidant", 19th century, Palais de Compiègne, France.
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After the Confidant, the woodworkers went back to their workshops. They added a third seat to the Confidant, giving it a propeller-like form.
Can you guess the name of this new creation? The "Indiscreet," a reference to people who stick their noses into private conversations (you know who you are!)
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Chair known as the "Indiscreet", Second Empire.
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Both chairs were wildly popular during France’s Second Empire, when Napoleon III ruled the land. He kept many examples, including a lemon yellow two seater, in his stately residences.
The chairs weren’t reserved exclusively for the Emperor. He distributed them throughout his ministers’ apartments in the Louvre (before it was a museum, the colossal Parisian building housed the French government.)
Only history knows what secrets were exchanged—and overheard—across those cushy couches.
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Apartments of Napoleon III, 19th century, Musée du Louvre, Paris.
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 From a secret to an indiscretion, there’s only the distance from a mouth to an ear.
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Amédée Pichot (historian) 
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Follow the guide! In celebration of his single, Monna Lisa Smile, the artist will.i.am takes you behind the scenes at the Louvre. Discover a mysterious staircase, a “loony” clock, and plenty of other surprises in the department of Decorative Arts.
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The musician will.i.am and the "Indiscreet", Apartments of Napoleon III, Musée du Louvre, Paris.
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Which French ruler was a fan of the Confidant?
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Contact Co-Founders Coline and Jean at hello@artips.co.
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