Chesterfield? Sofa or Town?

The Origins of the Chesterfield Sofa

Some people think that the Chesterfield sofa is so called after the name of the town Chesterfield in Derbyshire. Rumour has it they were named after the Earl of Chesterfield - but this is not a proven fact. This information will give you the background on the Chesterfield sofa and club chairs.

Choosing a Chesterfield sofa is an important decision - do you buy a leather sofa or a fabric covered ones?
Today most living areas feature sofas in some shape or form, we all grew up with a fabric or a leather sofa, settees or couche - whichever term you use, but where did these modern Chesterfield sofas and their smaller counterparts, club chairs originate. The history of sofas is somewhat involved.

The earliest form of seat furniture to accommodate two or more people was the settle, which dates back to c1500. The more comfortable chair-back settee evolved from this in the late 17th century, and this developed onto the fully upholstered long seat or settee, where the wood was exposed. A settee was an elongated armchair that accommodated two or more people. A love seat was and still is a long seat consisting of two seating cushions and intended to accommodate two people. Anything with more than two cushions was called a sofa.
The probable origin of the word sofa is taken from the Arabic suffah and means a long upholstered seat usually with arms and a back. The word sofa may also mean the ' dais' on which the Grand Vizier sat. The word did not appear in England until the early 18th century. Sofa is usually used to describe a seat which is larger and more comfortable than a settee.

A Chesterfield sofa is similar in construction and style to a settee but are larger and more comfortable, and in 18th and 19th century catalogues of furniture the terms are often interchangeable. Victorian sofas and settees were characterised by ornate carving and bold curvaceous designs including cabriole legs with scrolled toes and pottery castors, incurved arms and caned backs. Deep-buttoned upholstery often used rich velvets and patterned fabrics. Sofas and settees were crafted in wonderful woods such as rosewood, walnut, beech wood and mahogany.

This period saw the development of the Chesterfield, one of the first sofas to be entirely upholstered. We tend to think of Chesterfields in leather but the Victorians also used fabrics finished with cord. While the earliest example of a fabric or leather sofa would have been upholstered, springs weren't used in them until the early 19th century.

A very important development took place after 1830. The earliest example of a fabric or leather sofa would be stuffed with horsehair and wadding, but after the introduction of sprung upholstered sofas from circa 1830 the seats and backs were filled with metal coiled springs supported by Hessian webbing, and then covered with layers of horsehair and wadding. In order to make room for the new springs sofas became deeper, wider and consequently more comfortable.

Another word for a fabric or leather sofa is couch, derived from Middle French, couche, or coucher meaning to lie down, a couch was actually a bed, a couch is an article of furniture for sitting or reclining, a couch is very similar to a sofa. The French also referred to a daybed which was any type of elongated seating, including a chaise longue, or long chair, designed for resting rather than sleeping, it usually had a raised end.

Different styles of sofas through the ages include plain German and Scandinavian sofas made circa 1825 from inexpensive mahogany veneer, salon suites were made from circa 1840 onwards and were comprised of a settee, an open armchair known as a 'grandfather', and a low chair called a 'grandmother', some also had matching side chairs. Pierced backs on a fabric or leather sofa look elegant but were probably designed to act as 'chaperones' for amorous couples.

Buttoning was very popular at this date, often covering the entire back and seats of sofas. The Art Deco 1930's sofas, were often veneered in walnut and upholstered in cream coloured leathers. French daybeds of the 1930's were covered in exotic fabrics such as zebra skin, the epitome of elegance and chic. Modernist 1930's styles had chromed tubular steel frames with luxurious upholstered seats often finished with velvets. Compare these with campaign couches, which were collapsible and made from hardwearing brass and iron and date from the 1860's. Styles of more recent times include the functional and useful Japanese futon sofa bed.

So what of the Chesterfield sofa and club chair today?
Modern design has resulted in huge variety and choice, which encompasses style, colour, fabric, and design. Covers can be fixed or loose, washable or dry-clean only. Different styles and types of fabric or leather sofa include chesterfields, sectional sofas, reclining sofas, futons and sofa beds.
A chesterfield is a fabric or leather sofa with the arms at the same height as the back. A sectional sofa as the name suggests is made from several sections some with two arms some with one and some with none, and can be utilised in various combinations depending upon the room size or areas where it is situated. Recliners have moveable footrests and reclining backs.

Leather to look luxurious and used, rich soft supple hardwearing analine hide. Traditionally, full analine is regarded as the highest quality leather because of its soft hand and natural beauty. It's the most expensive due to the rarity of the hides.
Soft Chenille's available in both fixed and loose covers so soft you just want to stroke them, soft to the touch, warm to sit on and incredibly hard wearing they are a dream to live with.
Cottons are selected for their durability and practicality, you will find no better material with which to cover your Chesterfield than a fine 100% cotton damask.

Read more about the Chesterfield sofa at Wikipedia - click here