How the Papasan Chair Wound up in Everyone's First Apartment

The papasan goes by many names — bucket chair, saucer chair, bowl chair, moon chair and others. You might think its most common moniker would offer some insight into the product's origin, but, well, things are never that simple, right? Some of the earliest references to the term "papasan" date back to the 1970s and a 1974 advertisement from the Philippines used the word to promote the now-internationally recognized chair. But the word itself definitely didn't originate in the Philippines. According to John Kelly's super comprehensive article on the topic,"papasan" combines the English word for father ("papa") with the Japanese honorific suffix ("-san") to mean male elder or father.

"Legend has it that U.S. military men first brought the papasan chair to the states as a gift for their wives," says interior designer Sarah Barnard. "Paired with other treasures from their travels, the moon-shaped chair became part of the international and eclectic aesthetic 'contemporary military' or 'military chic' style."

It's still not totally clear why the soldiers chose to bestow such a name on a circular chair, but it's worth noting that Kelly says the term "papasan" was also used interchangeably with "pimp" during that era, and experts speculate soldiers may have first spotted the chair in red-light venues during the Vietnam War and associated it with sex culture. A stretch? Maybe. But there's not much information out there to otherwise explain the name.

Regardless of what you call it, the circular chair's history predates its many names, though it's not totally clear by how much time. According to Kelly's research, the chair is a product of Asian-Pacific culture that potentially popped up some time in the 20th century, albeit in a simpler form — smaller, uncushioned and propped up on legs.

As for how and why the papasan became such a ubiquitous '70s staple in the states outside of military circles, you can presumably thank Pier 1. According to the company website, it first started selling the chair, along with "beanbag chairs, love beads and incense" in the early 1960s, but Kelly believes the papasan's popularity really took off in the 1970s, and if you type "papasan.com" into your browser, you'll be redirected to Pier 1's papasan page (weird but cool?).

So is the papasan still cool today? "I have noticed the original papasan shape transform into a smaller form, 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 feel more dated. Now brands like Bend Goods and Baxter, are playing more with metal finishes, cords, installing smaller pillows and changing the shape."

"The rattan material and womb-like shape of papasan chairs invites daydreams of an island vacation and can inspire impromptu naps," Barnard says. "They are lightweight and easy to move about, with endless re-styling opportunities. Cushions can be replaced on a whim, and a colorful toss blanket can give an instant fresh face to a vintage chair. In recent years, saucer-shaped chairs have regained popularity, especially among boho-chic aficionados. Today's reinvented papasan is modern and earthy with a call to comfort and a casual, youthful spirit."