Expert: Mark H. Miller - 2/21/2005

Question
Mark,
Maybe you can help me.  There is a furniture website called Horchow.com.  On this week's site, they are showing a beautiful chair which they call a balloon chair.  The sides of the chair come up and form an enclosure around the top.  Do you know what this type of chair is called?  I did a search for balloon chairs and nothing like this came up.  Also, do you know who might manufacture these chairs as i would like to see other fabrics for it other than the one shown on Horchow.  Thank you.
-Adrienne

Answer
Hi,  sometimes this chair is also called a canape chair,  or wing chair with a top,  enclosed wing chair,  if you do not like the fabric it comes in ask the manufacturer if they will upholster it in c.o.m.  (customers own material) Most likely the chair is made in Italy and imported.  Check Italian furniture frame manufacturers.  $3000 for the chair is reasonable.  Ask if they will upholster it in muslin and then have your own upholsterer upholster it for you in your choice of fabric.  Last resort if you want it badly enough is to buy it as is have it shipped to your upholsterer to put your fabric on it.  

By the way,  it's a great chair and I have seen very few of them around.  The purpose of the canape is as with all wing chairs and that is to capture the heat from a fire place.  This one can also be used outdoors in the summer to provide shade from the sun.

I hope this helps.  Please don't hesitate to contact me should you have further questions.

Mark Miller.