21st July 2014
This iconic piece of furniture has stood the test of time but there is a lot of mystery surrounding its creation. The myth of the Chesterfield sofa begins with rumours that it was first produced in the 1800s.
The Oxford English Dictionary seems to back up this theory as they claim that the word ‘Chesterfield’ was used in England during this era to describe a leather couch. Nobody really knows what the real date of discovery is, but there are plenty of people who have speculated about this famous sofa.
It is believed that the first person to commission a Chesterfield sofa was a British aristocrat named Lord Phillip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield. He was a famous diplomat, statesman and writer but was above all known for being a trendsetter who loved tasteful interiors.
Therefore it is not surprising that he created a sofa that is the epitome of timeless style. According to tales about the Chesterfield sofa, Stanhope requested that a local craftsman create a piece of furniture which would allow a gentleman to sit comfortably without creasing their garments. This explains why the sofa has deep buttoned upholstery, rolled arms and an equal back and arm height. The first Chesterfield sofa also had the quilted leather upholstery and low seat base which we are so familiar with today.
The Chesterfield’s life continued when Stanhope decided to hand down his creation to his godson, Mr Dayrolls. Once he had passed away the chair was taken to Dayrolls’s home and he was struck at how the years of wear had only made it look more attractive. It is then said that many other aristocrats admired the sofa and commissioned craftsmen to create similar designs.
This then established the brown Chesterfield sofa as a piece of British history.
This leather sofa might have started its life in the homes of Britain’s aristocracy, but it would soon be enjoyed in places further than the Gentleman’s Clubs of London.
Some say that the sofa was then exported to the colonies of the British Empire by the Royal Army and was known across the world as an example of British heritage. The USA, Canada and Australia were among the few places that were graced with the presence of the Chesterfield.
The Chesterfield remained popular with the upper class and hierarchy throughout the 19th century as it was seen in their living rooms throughout Britain. It received even more attention when the Freudian psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, originally used the sofa during his hypnosis sessions.
In the 19th century the manufacturing of leather was also given a lot more attention, which meant that as the demand for the Chesterfield sofa continued to rise, so did the quality of the leather. Manufacturers made sure that the sofas were made out of a material that was incredibly comfortable, hard-wearing and long-lasting. This undoubtedly helped to sustain the popularity of the sofa during this period.
Today the Chesterfield sofa still holds the same iconic look that it did in the 1800s but now can be enjoyed by even more people. Once it might have been saved for the elite but now its comfort and sophistication can be enjoyed in any home.
At Thomas Lloyd we value the history of the Chesterfield sofa so we take great care in producing this high-quality product. Our brown leather sofas are designed and created to a high standard by talented and experienced craftsmen, who still use traditional methods.
Although its history might be more of a myth than reality, the Chesterfield sofa will always remain as a symbol of British class and style.
