From libraries and vintage studies filled with expensive cigar smoke, to ad agencies and hypnotherapy offices – nothing quite does it like the ever-desirable Chesterfield sofa. Where did this beauty originate?

UPDATE: We’ve added a link at the bottom of the article about a deal we find which let’s you save R6,350 on your very own full-grain leather Chesterfield sofa. One times family heirloom, coming up!

You would be correct if you guessed England – in the 18th century, to be exact. One times Philip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, was looking for something which he could sit on, without wrinkling his clothes. Somewhere he could chill, whilst the women carried on with their needlework, or whatever it is they do.

According to London Gallery:

It is believed that Lord Phillip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773), commissioned the first leather chesterfield settee with its distinctive deep buttoned, quilted leather upholstery and low seat base. Aside from being a much-admired politician and writer, patron of Voltaire, the Earl was a known trendsetter. Apparently the Earl requested a local craftsman to construct a piece of furniture that would allow a gentleman to sit upright in the utmost of comfort allowing sitting without wrinkling the garment. This was the original purpose of the chesterfield sofa with its characteristic deep buttoned upholstery, rolled arms, equal back and arm height and nail head trim. Lord Stanhope was a noted writer of letters to his illegitimate son, extolling all method of manners and morals. The Chesterfield sofa is certainly a refined and mannerly example of seating.

Now it’s all very well that he might have commissioned one, but how did it get from there, to the family heirloom your grandmother promised to pass down to you if you behave?

You’ll enjoy this part:

Legend has it that in March 24th, 1773 when the nobleman passed away his very last words were directed to his personal butler. The old Earl didn’t forget his good manners while he was in his deathbed so when a friend came to visit him he ordered to his manservant: “Give Mr. Dayrolles a chair” just before expiring. The servant took Lord Stanhope at his word and waving away protests, insisted that Stanhope’s godson Dayrolles, a budding young diplomat who had come to enquire after the elderly man’s health, take the armchair with him. After carrying the heavy chair back home, Mr. Dayrolles had a proper look at the chair: a magnificent piece of work in deep brown leather, indented with large, deeply set buttons. The years of wear had served to lend the item an even more attractive appearance. It was an ageless and timeless masterpiece.

After that episode we have to imagine Dayrolles acquaintances commissioning similar chairs for themselves as a natural reaction to the great admiration caused by the first chesterfield armchair.

I had a friend who lived in a flat the size of a mousepad, with a three-seater chesterfield sofa taking up most of the lounge. It was indeed part of his inheritance from his grandmother. He couldn’t afford storage and wasn’t going to sell that beast – especially with the years of wear and smoke which only add to the quality of the thing. He swore it was worth more than his car.

That’s all relative, of course, as one man’s car is another man’s mountain bike. But looking through Gumtree, there are a number of second hand chesterfield sofa’s for around R13,000.

But that’s got other families’ memories in it and I far prefer to create or form part of a legacy, rather than to simply buy one.

This beauty (new) is priced at R17,000 and comes with the obligatory studded arms, made with genuine quality top-grain leather.

That’s fairly hefty, even for a family heirloom!

You’ll be quite pleased to note that the very same sofa is on special right now for only R13,649. You can find that special here.

That’s a six grand saving..

I’d get that if I were you.

[source : londongallery]