Pair Of Old Smoking Chairs Say: Smoking - Solid Oak - Period: XIXth Century

Charming pair of chairs called "Fumeuses", they have a wide seat in cane, on which one sat astride to smoke cigar, cigarette or pipe.
Made of solid oak with a flat upper part of the back, it has four turned legs joined by stretchers.
These chairs were common in photographic studios in the second half of the 19th century. 

Period : XIXth century
Dimensions : Height : 81cm x Width : 47,5cm - Seat depth : 43,5cm

This piece of furniture was especially fashionable during the Second Empire. The upper part of the backrest on which the smoker was leaning was often used as a storage rack for accessories. 

One could of course find there the tobacco bag, the pipes, the matches and other pipe cleaners... 
These racks were either lidded or sliding.
Sometimes hidden in the seat, in front of the smoker and in the middle of the calf, a tray allowed to put a carafe and glass.

Also used in Northern Germany and Holland, this accessory continued until the very beginning of the 20th century.
These chairs were inspired by the GOD's Prayer of the churches.