Chesterfield Sofa & Chesterfield Chair Makers

History of the Chesterfield sofa

The Chesterfield sofa has a rich and interesting history which has lead to it's iconic status.

Almost certainly commissioned for Chesterfield House which was one of the most splendid and magnificent mid-eighteenth-century houses in London.  It was built by one of the most fashionable men of his time, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, a politician and diplomat, wit and letter-writer.  His house stood on a particularly large site and was the first large house to face the park.  Its front extended almost from Audley Square to Curzon Street.

People often wonder and conjure up theories on the buttoning of a Chesterfield sofa.  How it was introduced and for what purpose.  Each diamond serves as a "pocket" for horsehair, horse tail or cow tail as used in the first and what are now referred to as "original" Chesterfield sofas.

The craftsman undertaking the build of such a piece would place two buttons in place then stuff the pocket.  The next two buttons would effectively close this pocket and keep the loose hair in place.