Today we are discussing the chaise percée, an elegant chair-like contraption used to camouflage what Elsie de Wolfe described as “the unmentionable.” In other words… potty talk at The Glam Pad, mon dieu! French for “pierced chair” and known in France as “chaise nécessaire,” you can read about the original use of the chaise percée here. Now they are used rather whimsically by those in the know to cover the modern toilet, and they have found their way into the homes of society mavens and legendary designers such as Brooke Astor, Patricia Altschul, Nancy Lancaster, Elsie de Wolfe, Charlotte Moss, and Nicky Haslam.
Nancy Lancaster’s bath at Haseley Court in Oxfordshire. Photo courtesy Colefax and Fowler via Architectural Digest.
Purchasing a chaise percée today takes a bit of sleuthing as they have become quite rare, particularly originals in good condition from the 18th and early 19th century. A beautiful 18th century chaise percée is currently available through La Maison Francaise Antiques, and the owner, H.Philippe, graciously shared some interesting history…
During the time of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour, the chaise percée was kept in the “Cabinet des Dépêches,” a room that was normally very well decorated. These were not made for the general public in the 18th century, and therefore they are very rare.
A chaise percée in the salle de bain of the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. Image via Paris-Bise-Art.
By the early 1900’s chaise percées had become more plentiful and could still be found in many regions around Europe. “They had them in the Rooms so during the cold and snow days, they didn’t have to go to the ‘outhouse’ or ‘pit latrine,'” said H.Philippe. “Of course they were not made as fancy as the earlier chaise percée, but regardless they still had them. Most people forget that only 60 and 70 years ago the world was not the same as it is today, where we have everything we need at our fingertips, from running water heating systems, electricity, etc. etc.”
An advertisement from 1929 via @theamericanbathroom.
Chaise percées from the early 20th century in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI were crafted to fit over a modern toilet and tend to be slightly easier to find. “How difficult it is to keep the indoor toilet out of sight!” said a 1920s advertisement for the Zundel Sanitary Toilet Chair. “This, alone, has brought about the immense popularity of the Zundel Sanitary Chair.” Today, prices for these chairs range from $15* to thousands of dollars…
*Brooke Astor’s Louis XV style chaise percée realized just $15 at auction due to an unfortunate fluke you can read about here (scroll down to the comment section).
The chaise percée in Patricia Altschul‘s Mario Buatta-designed Charleston home was found at auction in London. “Mario had the chaise painted and also insisted on wooden floor registers so they could be painted as extensions of the floor,” said Altschul.
Bettie Bearden Pardee‘s mother enlisted the late Otto Zenke to decorate their Atlanta home… The elegant powder room featured a chaise percée.
The Charlotte Moss Collection auction at Doyle New York in 2013 featured treasures from Charlotte’s homes, including a Louis XV Style Beechwood chaise percée.
A chaise percée in Nicky Haslam’s London flat.
There are two chaise percees at the Phipps estate, Westbury House. Image via Big Old Houses.
The Westbury House via Big Old Houses.
A chaise percée at Faringdon House in Oxfordshire, England.
Daisy Fellowes’ luxurious bathroom at Donnington Grove, her 18th-century Oxfordshire country house, was featured in Harper’s Bazaar. Image courtesy of P. Gaye Tapp.
A lavish bathroom designed by Elsie Sloan Farley for Helena Woolworth McCann, 1926. Image via @theamericanbathroom.
A bathroom designed by Elsie de Wolfe for J.P. Morgan’s daughter, Anne, at her Sutton Place home. Image via @theamericanbathroom.
The Swan House in Atlanta via The Opinionator.
A woman investigates a chaise percée in a bathroom at The Elms in Newport, Rhode Island. Photo by Nancy Sirkis from her book Newport Pleasures and Palaces via The Down East Dilettante.
Mrs. Berwind’s bathroom at The Elms. According to Antique Trader, two chaise percées from The Elms were sold in 2006 by Grogan and Company for $115. Image via Historic Structures.
A French painted chaise percée of Louis XV style, late 19th century, sold via Christie’s, image via Renée Finberg.
This chaise percée from a Newport estate is for sale, and a nearly identical one (and much less expensive) is for sale here.
Available for sale here!
This one is from the collection of Robert Eigelberger, Casa Phippsberger, a prominent Palm Beach estate. It sold at auction but a nearly identical one can be found here!
This carved and gilt Louis XIV style French chaise percée (probably 19th century) sold at auction.
An early 19th century example via First Dibbs.
There is even a chaise percée at Disneyland’s Club 33! Image via Fresh Baked Disney.
An identical style is available for sale!
New/Reproduction chaise percées are available for sale here.
The London townhouse of former fashion designer, Victoria Press. Image from T Magazine via This is Glamorous.
source unknown
This chaise percée was discovered by Jenny at The Foo Dog Blog from an amazing 19th century Chicago townhouse currently for sale.
An extremely rare 18th century Louis XV chaise percée, available for purchase through La Maison Francaise Antiques.
What are your thoughts on the chaise percée? I am completely charmed! A very special thank you to my friend Cynthia Lambert for collaborating with me on this post and to H. Philippe at La Maison Francaise Antiques for historical information.
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Thank you for this fabulous post!
As much as I love the look of these “chairs”, keeping them clean and hygenic is never far from my mind even if you are the exclusive user. My mind always goes there.
Agreed. They’re so beautiful! …but as a boy mom, I can’t help but think of the hygiene.
Our lovely and stylish Andrea is far too modest to say that she herself is the proud owner of a chaise percée. Bien sûr!
I was at the Astor sale, along with Boy Fenwick and other design luminaries, and my paddle hand was itching to go up when Brooke’s chaise percée went on the block. But the configuration of my baths wouldn’t allow for one, so I had to pass, and was chagrined when the winner exclaimed – “I don’t know what it is, but I’ll use it as a chair.” Sold to a cretin for a song…a pity.
One has to admire Daisy Fellowes for her grand throne. It’s the most opulent I have ever seen, surpassing even Marie Antoinette’s.
Thank you, Andrea, for educating us about the wonderful CP. One day I aspire to having a bathroom with a WC/CP pavilion, like Pat Altschul’s. And I’ll know I have really arrived if it has a fireplace as well. Life needs its little luxuries, n’est ce pas?
A charming alternative to the plain porcelain stool, but the very thought of letting the boys of the house use it, well… That’s an upsetting idea!!! Especially since the wood and caning could be quite… absorbent.
Thank you for this wonderful and informative post! I’ve written a novel, Wickwythe Hall, which takes place in a country home in England inspired by Nancy Lancaster’s Ditchley Park. In the novel, my Nancy-inspired character redid the bathrooms to include these wonderful chairs. Readers have asked me if they are a real thing, and now I can point to your blog post to give them all the information they need!
Dear Judithe,
Thank you so much for your note, this makes me so happy! There is very little information on the Internet about these chairs, and it pleases me to know that my post will be of assistance. Your novel sounds intriguing… I am heading over to Amazon to purchase now! 🙂
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
Thank YOU! I wish I had this information when I wrote the book!! I hope you enjoy it! XO Judithe
My eccentric ex-boyfriend lived in a wonderful old house in Wales (decorated in the 60’s by his step-mother) which had a couple of these chaise perchees and I was never sure whether I loved them or hated them mainly because of the hygiene issue but thanks for another wonderful post which was a trip down memory lane!
We used to stay at a country house hotel in the Berkshires that had a CP in one of the bathrooms of the largest suite in the house. It was reputedly owned by Marilyn Monroe ( purchased at an auction years ago according to the hotel’s owner). One time, my husband and I stayed in that suite, and since it had two bathrooms, I took the larger bathroom, of course, and my husband took the smaller one which contained the CP. He had no idea what the heck it was nor why his toilet was “covered” with a chair. I found the whole incident hilarious.
Personally, I find the CP a ridiculous affectation and completely unsanitary.
Someone needs to make this out of non-porous material so that they can be kept sanitary. I think they would then be big sellers. Although most of the ones that you listed as available are now sold out.
Hi Valerie,
Yes, the ones I posted yesterday sold quickly. They are quite difficult to find, and I had to do a lot of digging. I purchased one (identical to Brooke Astor’s in style) while researching this post, and I am planning on having the seat coated in polyurethane or epoxy. 🙂
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
I love them and have been looking for one for years!! I contacted the Antiques Dealer on Etsy here in Atlanta and bought it!! I would like another one so I will contact the Italian company.
Merci
Marie Arden Bensing
Dear Marie,
This makes me so happy! I would love to see pictures once you have them in place. 🙂
Xx,
Andrea
The Glam Pad
For reasons I can’t explain, I have a strong visceral negative reaction to these “chairs”. Maybe I had a bad experience in a past life?
Hi Andrea, “Thank You” for this fun post. I purchased mine at auction, in Ivory, but otherwise identical to the one shown from the Newport Estate. It’s no problem to care for and much more comfortable than a regular seat. Guests always ask to use the bathroom that has my chaise Percee!
Not for me, Andrea, seems like it would not be all that practical for sanitary reasons especially. They don’t look too comfortable either. Interesting post though!!
just stumbled over your blog – love it already!!
interesting furniture! but i prefer my toilet in a little separate room – so the bathroom can be as elegant as i want 🙂
xx
Thank you for finally solving this mystery for me! The only chaise perceés I’ve ever come across are the two you mentioned that hide in the ladies’ room at Club 33 in Disneyland. I swear they are THE most photographed things in the whole, exclusive restaurant! I never knew they were a thing—I assumed it was just a Disney confabulation.
Anyone know where to get the reproductions?