With its distinctive padding and rounded armrests, the Chesterfield armchair is easily identifiable. Legend has it that the first copy was made at the end of the 18thcentury at the request of Philip Stanhope, 4thEarl of Chesterfield.
The English politician and writer wanted a piece in quilted leather with a low seat "to allow a gentleman to sit upright without creasing".
Exported to the British colonies
In 1773, on his deathbed, Lord Chesterfield insisted on giving an armchair to his godson, Solomon Dayrolles. Seduced by the quality of this magnificent seat, patinated by time, the young diplomat decided to have it made in several copies. The Chesterfield sofa and armchair were then exported by Royal Army officers to all the colonies of the British Empire.
Emblems of the British style, they are then associated with the cozy atmosphere of the Gentlemen's Club, refuges of London's high society. The sofa was also popularized by Sigmund Freud in the 19th century, who used it during his hypnosis sessions.
For lovers of industrial design...
Originally, the Chesterfield seat was covered in leather, its padding being made of horsehair or silk stuffing and goose feathers for the cushions. Nowadays, polyester foam is replacing them. On the structure made of noble woods, a first canvas is sewn to give the shape of each padding and to facilitate the implementation of the leather covering.
More than two centuries after its creation, the mythical piece of furniture from the Victorian era has gone through the ages to become a must in our interiors. Its quilting and massive appearance may put off followers of minimalism, but this characterful piece, with its retro charm, is popular with fans of industrial design. The Chesterfield fits perfectly into a universe inspired by New York lofts with brick walls, metal furniture and suspensions, coffee tables in aged wood...
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… or Art Deco style
It can also be found in the Steampunk trend, a retro-futuristic aesthetic from the industrial revolution that transforms an interior into a veritable cabinet of curiosities filled with trunks, clocks, world maps and telescopes…
The Chesterfield is also revisited in a velvet version to stick to the Art Deco style, atmosphere of the Great Gatsby. Armchairs and sofas in intense blues and greens are associated with brass pieces for a retro-chic atmosphere.
Comfortable and elegant, the Chesterfield seat has been renewed over time to become an essential element of our interiors.
APEI-News. J.F.
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