In the early 2000s , my high school supporter and I would routinely go down at one sidekick ’s house on the weekends . Her apartment was roomy enough to accommodate an telling routine of obnoxious , post - party teenager , but there was only so muchmattress spaceand lounge veridical the three estates to go around . inescapably , one of us would have to sleep in the papasan .
If you do n’t know the papasan by name , you certainly experience it on sight . It ’s that pipe bowl - shaped , cushioned chair that has a definite 1970s palpate to it . It seemed to enjoy a rebirth in the late mid to late ' 90s ( I ca n’t chance grounds of one existing in the"Friends " apartment , but it decidedly could have been something Monica had and never permit anyone to sit in ) .
In cover this level , I learn that just about everyone has a papasan story . I heard a fate of " oh I lie with those ! " and " ugh I had tosleepin one of those after a fraternity party once . " My completely informal and unscientific public opinion poll on the matter indicates that many admire the quirky aesthetic of the papasan , plenty are put off by its precarious - seeming nature , and more than a few have wake up stiff and contort from assuming the fetal position in it for eight hour . Regardless of your family relationship to the piece of furniture raw material , it ’s deserving knowing a lilliputian bit about this curious circular seating area option and where it came from .
Where Did the Papasan Come From?
" Legend has it that U.S. military humans first brought the papasan hot seat to the state of matter as a gift for their wives , " saysinterior designer Sarah Barnard . " Paired with other treasures from their locomotion , the moon - shaped chair became part of the international and eclectic aesthetic ' contemporary military machine ' or ' military chic ' style . "
It ’s still not totally clear why the soldiers opt to bestow such a name on a round hot seat , but it ’s deserving noting that Kelly says the term " papasan " was also used interchangeably with " pimp " during that era , and expert speculate soldiers may have first spotted the chair in reddened - light venues during the Vietnam War and associate it with sex culture . A reach ? possibly . But there ’s not much information out there to otherwise excuse the name .
disregarding of what you call it , the circular chair ’s history predates its many public figure , though it ’s not totally clean by how much time . According to Kelly ’s research , the electric chair is a product of Asian - Pacific culture that potentially popped up some time in the twentieth century , albeit in a simpler form — smaller , uncushioned and propped up on legs .
Enter Pier 1 Imports
As for how and why the papasan became such a ubiquitous ' seventy staple in the states alfresco of military circles , you’re able to presumptively thank Pier 1 . accord to thecompany website , it first started selling the chair , along with " beanbag chair , dear beads and incense " in the other sixties , but Kelly believes the papasan ’s popularity really took off in the 1970s , and if you typecast " papasan.com " into your browser app , you ’ll be redirected toPier 1 ’s papasan page(weird but cool ? ) .
So is the papasan still cool today ? " I have noticed the original papasan contour transform into a small bod , often just in the form of rattan without a tufted cushion , " says Lindsey Shook , editorial and brand director of " California Home + Design Magazine . " " The cushion itself is what makes the piece palpate more dated . Now brands like Bend Goods and Baxter , are playing more with metal finishes , cord , instal modest pillows and changing the shape . "
" The rattan material and uterus - corresponding physical body of papasan chairs invites castle in Spain of an island vacation and can urge on impromptu naps , " Barnard tell . " They are lightweight and easy to move about , with endless re - styling opportunities . Cushions can be replaced on a impulse , and a colorful toss blanket can give an instant refreshing face to a vintage chair . In recent years , disk - shaped chairs have find popularity , specially among boho - smart aficionados . Today ’s reinvent papasan is modern and earthy with a call to comfort and a casual , youthful spirit . "
