La-Z-Girl

Posted by Milano, Editorial Assistant

While it doesn’t take much to coax me into being active -- who doesn’t love an impromptu trip to the Met, a hair-raising game of touch football, or a sampling of local live music? -- I must admit that, at heart, I’m a lounger.

Crackling fires, double hammocks, sheepskin rugs, and puffy chaises like this one (below) from Crate and Barrel: All these things speak to me on a deep level.

Thanks to a barbecue I attended a couple of months ago, I found another item to add to my dream team. As I inhaled my steak and potato salad, my eye was drawn to a rattan-and-wood plantation chair sitting regally by itself on one side of the living room.

When I complimented the hostess on it, she responded, “The real beauty of the chair is in its pivoting arms.”

Now maybe I’m the last person to learn about this polished progenitor of the La-Z-Boy, but it was a lightbulb moment, like the time I read about the earth being round or the instant I understood why some stocks are referred to as “liquid.” I was awestruck and, of course, full of hope that someday one just like it would be mine for the lounging.

Once I stopped gawking, I asked about the history of this type of chair. It’s called “plantation” because it was used during the Colonial period on plantations in the South, the Caribbean, and other exotic, hot locales by folks looking to put up their feet and air out on a sweltering day. This particular recliner is a replica made in Indonesia. I’m not sure where it was purchased, but I'm happy to report that a quick look on web yielded a numbert of look-alikes -- all of which can be enjoyed by dedicated loungers in any climate.

Comments

[julles rules (again)]

aha. just found a pic - they're colonial Indian style and the extending arms are actually footrests! not one for the ladies though... see http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/exhibits/india/chap3.htm

[jules rules - uk]

So what do you do with the arms? Apart from standing your G & T on them? I just bought 2 'real deal' ones (cane, pivoting arms, teak) so v.pleased!

[Nara Watson-Ward]

also known in the Caribbean as the Burbese chair, not sure if thats spelt right. usually made of mahogany here (Im in Barbados)
some came with woven, carpet-like tapestry fabric and some are woven cane. very hard to come by originals as the are 300 years old and passed inside the family or sold at stupendous prices, but I have seen some nice repros.

[Radu]

The chair originated in Malaysia where quickly became popular with plantation owner and it spread through South East Asia, and it remains quite common in Phillipines and Indonesia.
Do not believe if you see it advertised as Barbados or Florida and also dont forget the real deal has pivoting arms, cane (not leather which I like better though) and is made of teak only. Those are the three a la carte requirements for the SEAPC (South East Asian Plantation Chair).
Oh, dont forget the ottoman, I hade mine custom made in Bali from old Kalimantan teak, fine cow leather from Korea and inlayed with mother of pearl by specialists from Lombok Island. Stunning beauty!

[mads]

that looks like my grandpa's chair in India :)

[adimay]

gorgeous chair! thanks for posting it. i remember these kind of chairs. i grew up in the philippnes-- we had one and my uncle had one too in a darker color. they call it "silya perezosa". there's a few vesions of it in a book called filipino style, (page 202 if you're inclined :) )

[PeaTea]

Nice find! And your cozy photo up top makes me even more excited for sweater weather to FINALLY arrive!