Which Rococo bed style uses four iron rods curving upward to a dome canopy?

• A. a la duchesse
• B. d'ange
• C. a la polonaise
• D. a la francaise

Answer: (C)

In Rococo bed design, the canopy form can be a telling feature of the style. The bed with four slender iron rods arching upward to meet overhead and form a light, domed canopy is the polonaise bed. This four-rod dome showcases Rococo’s love of delicate curves and airy structure, using metalwork as the architectural frame while fabric drapes beneath it. The name reflects Polish influence that filtered into French decorative arts, and the distinctive domed shape is the clearest visual cue of this style. The other options lean on different canopy schemes or ornamentation—duchesse beds emphasize fabric and a heavier, more enclosed surround; an angel-themed bed highlights figurative motifs; and French-style beds tend to present a more formal, wood-driven geometry—so they don’t feature the signature four-rod domed canopy of the polonaise.