The Togo, designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset in 1973, has no frame. There is no wooden carcass and no metal structure: the seat is made of foams of several densities, wrapped in a quilted, pleated cover that gives it its shape. That construction accounts for its comfort, its lightness and most of the questions worth asking before you buy one. Two decisions matter more than the rest: the format, and the cover.
The formats you will come across
On the second-hand market, five formats turn up most often: the ottoman, the fireside chair, the corner seat, the two-seat sofa and the three-seat sofa. Ligne Roset gives the following dimensions for its current elements, and they are a fair guide to an older example too:
- the fireside chair, a single seat without arms, is 87 cm wide;
- the corner seat measures 102 cm by 102 cm, with a back on two sides;
- the two-seater is 131 cm wide;
- the three-seater is 174 cm wide;
- the ottoman, with no back, serves as a footstool or an extra seat.
The elements with a back share a depth of about one metre, a height of 70 cm and a seat height of 38 cm. Ligne Roset's current range also includes longer sofas and a version with a deeper seat.
Sizing it to the room
Width is rarely the real issue. Depth more often is: at a metre deep, a Togo takes up more floor than many sofas, and you still need room to walk in front of it. Measure the available depth first, then the width.
Its low height works the other way. At 70 cm, the back stays below window sills and low furniture, and the room looks more open than it would with a conventional sofa of the same width. In a small living room, a two-seater, or two fireside chairs side by side, is often enough.
The elements are independent and simply sit next to one another. A corner seat between two fireside chairs, or between a fireside chair and a two-seater, makes an L-shaped arrangement that can be split up again when you move. That counts for something if you do not yet know where you will be living in five years.
One caution: the seat is low and soft. For some people, getting up from a 38 cm seat that sinks under them takes effort. If the Togo is meant for elderly parents or for someone with bad knees, try one before buying.
Having no frame has a practical advantage too. A Togo is light and gives a little, so it gets through a narrow staircase or a doorway where a framed sofa would stick.
Fabric or leather
Ligne Roset currently offers a wide choice of fabrics, velvets, chenilles and leathers. On older examples you mostly find period fabrics, often velvets, and leather.
Fabric feels warmer and costs less, both to buy and to redo. A textured weave hides wear along the pleats better than a plain, smooth one. On the other hand, it stains more easily, can pill, and fades in direct light.
Leather takes on a patina. The quilting creases show more, which is part of the model's look and not a defect. It needs some care: regular feeding, and a place away from radiators and direct sun, or it dries out and cracks along the folds. With pets, bear in mind that leather keeps the marks of claws, and that a loose-weave fabric snags.
The cover is not final. A Togo's cover can be replaced, but it fits the foam tightly and Ligne Roset recommends leaving the fitting to a professional. An older example with tired fabric can therefore be given a new cover, provided the foam underneath is still sound.
What to check on an older Togo
On a vintage example, judge the foam before the cover. Over the years it can harden, crumble or lose its shape. Press the seat and the back: the foam should spring back, with no hollow patches and no sense of material breaking up. Foam can be replaced, but that is a cost to factor into the price. We have covered this work in our guide to restoring and caring for a Togo.
Check authenticity as well. The Togo is widely copied, and recent copies are sometimes well made. Labels, seams and the way the foam is built settle the question in most cases; our article on authenticating and valuing a Togo goes through these points one by one.
Finally, look closely at the cover: seams opening at the corners, leather cracked in the hollows of the pleats, fabric worn through to the weave on the arms. These are the areas that work hardest.
At LAPIERRE MARKET
The Togo is one of the pieces we buy, old or recent, anywhere in France. For the history of the model and its designer, see the profile of Michel Ducaroy; to sell yours, the sell a piece page explains how we work.
By
LAPIERRE MARKET
