Papasan chair

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A papasan chair Papsan image.png
A papasan chair

A papasan chair (also called a bowl chair or oval chair) is a type of bowl-shaped chair.

Contents

Design

A papasan chair with its cushion removed 2008-05-30 Papasan chair 2.jpg
A papasan chair with its cushion removed

A papasan chair is a large rounded bowl-shaped chair with an adjustable angle. The bowl rests in an upright frame traditionally made of rattan, but also sometimes made of sturdy wicker or wood. [1]

The base frame often has rings of two different diameters. Assembly instructions are inconsistent about whether the larger ring should be on top, so as to hold more of the bowl, [2] or should instead make contact with the floor. [3] Some bases come with footpads attached to the larger ring. [4]

The cushion of the chair is typically thick velveteen material filled with cotton fluff similar to that of a futon. In traditional papasans, the cushion can be removed and used outside of the sturdy frame.

Papasan chairs are typically 35-45 inches wide and 30-36 inches deep, with a seat height of 14-18 inches from the floor. [5]

History

The papasan chair gained popularity in the west when American World War II veterans brought them home from Asia. During the 1960s, the chairs became a favorite among college students due to their low price and unconventionality. [6] The chair was introduced by Pier 1 Imports in 1975 and soon became one of the retailer's iconic products. [7] [8] Towards the end of the twentieth century, the papasan had become a common piece of furniture in American homes. [9] [10]

Types

The mamasan chair is a double-seating version, and was introduced to the western world in the 1950s. Prior to that, it was in use in far eastern Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan. It can also be called a double papasan chair, which term is widely used.

References

  1. "What Are Papasan Chairs? All You Need to Know". Wayfair. Archived from the original on 19 April 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025. The frames of the papasan chairs were traditionally constructed out of rattan, but today they can be crafted out of sturdy organic materials like wicker, wood, or even steel.
  2. "PAPASAN Rattan accent chair and cushion" (PDF). structube.com. Structube. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  3. "Assembly Instructions for 3312 Papasan Frame" (PDF). Bed Bath & Beyond. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. "Assembly Instruction" (PDF). Bett Homes & Gardens. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025. 5Pcs foot pads are already assembled on the chair base
  5. "Papasan Chair Dimensions". Rattan Cirebon. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2025. The standard dimensions of a papasan chair typically include a seat diameter of 35 to 45 inches (89 to 114 cm) and a height of about 30 to 36 inches (76 to 91 cm). Seat height usually ranges from 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 cm) from the ground.
  6. Rybczynski, Witold (2016). Now I Sit Me Down: From Klismos to Plastic Chair: A Natural History. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. 204. Retrieved 26 February 2025 via Internet Archive. Inexpensive and unconventional, the papasan was a favorite of college students.
  7. Alterio, Julie Moran (5 July 2002). "Focus helps Pier 1 find its niche". The Journal News. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025 via The Honolulu Advertiser. Shortly after Girouard started with the company 27 years ago, he introduced one of Pier 1's signature products: the papasan chair.
  8. Pier 1 Imports Annual Report 2002 (PDF) (Report). Pier 1 Imports. 2002. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2025 via U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We've moved way beyond beads and incense, but some products, like our famous Papasan chair, still help define us, thanks to their timeless appeal.
  9. Kelly, John (17 July 2017). "Tracing the Elusive History of Pier 1's Ubiquitous 'Papasan' Chair". Atlas Obscura . Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  10. Miller, Dana, ed. (2015). "Jessica Stockholder". Whitney Museum of American Art: Handbook of the Collection. Whitney Museum of American Art. p. 372. Retrieved 26 February 2025 via Google Books. The central element of Jessica Stockholder's untitled 1995 work—a rattan Papasan chair—is quotidian enough, but its commonplace presence serves primarily as a base for the motley assortment of objects and materials the artist has added to and around it.