Polish bed
A Polish bed (; ), alternatively known in English as a polonaise, is a type of small-canopy bed which most likely originated in Poland and became a centrepiece of 18th-century French furniture. The curtain is topped with an elaborate crownlike centrepiece, which is connected to the four vertical corner poles of the bed frame (which are usually curved). Unlike the four-poster bed, the canopy is much smaller than the bed. 

Historically, a Polish bed was often placed on its side against the wall to serve as a daybed. Nowadays, any type of curtained daybed or couch is known under this term. The Polish bed shares many similarities with the "lit à la turque", however Turkish-styled beds contain two scrolling ends and the canopy is generally off-center, and suspended from one side only. 

Polonaise bedding was possibly first observed at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, at the time when Ottoman styles were fashionable across Europe. They were popularized in France by Polish-born queen Marie Leszczyńska, who married Louis XV of France in 1725. Hence, it became a principal piece of the so-called Louis XV furniture. These richly decorated rococo beds were generally designated for the wealthier upper classes and aristocracy that resided in palaces, however, canopies were also popular in many common homes (the warmth of the curtains was functional). The French propagated the design as "lit à la polonaise".

Polish beds dating back to the period can be found in museums, most famous being the Palace of Versailles in France. The polonaise should not be confused with the "lit à la Duchesse" where the canopy is only supported from one end.
Q3256519
canopy bed
Concept
Q36
Poland
LOC
Q3256522
four-poster bed
Concept
Q5243076
daybed
Concept
Q5243076
daybed
Concept
Q3256524
lit à la turque
Concept
Q43
Turkish
LOC
Q756098
Royal Castle
LOC
Q270
Warsaw
LOC
Q12560
Ottoman
LOC
Q142
France
LOC
Q231674
Marie Leszczyńska
PER
Q7738
Louis XV of France
PER
Q48816797
Louis XV furniture
Concept
Q122960
rococo
Concept
Q123432
aristocracy
Concept
Q2946
Palace of Versailles
LOC
Q3256519
lit à la Duchesse
Concept
Q88525941
Polish bed
UNK
Q88525941
Polish bed
UNK
Q88525941
Polish bed
UNK
Q88525941
Polish bed
UNK
1725-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
1725
DATE
+18^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
18
NUMBER
located in the administrative territorial entity
country of citizenship
spouse
country of citizenship
spouse