Wednesday, 21 August 2013

The Story Of London Sofas

By Frank Field


The contemporary sofa traces its ancestral roots back to Egypt with household bench chairs buried with the tombs of the Pharoahs. However, it wasn't until considerably later on that upholstered furniture emerged with all the application of traditional materials such as horsehair and feather and down. Finally in the eighteenth Century, the modern day sofa surfaced as upholstery became a recognised occupation with the formation of a professional body in the city of London. Here follows a short history of London Sofa Upholstery from its origins to the the present.

The City of London, initially founded by the Romans at the first passable crossing of the Thames, has an extraordinary and very diverse design heritage stretching back more than 2000 years. The authentic international city, London rose to prominence as the capital of the British Empire which at its peak stretched across the globe covering virtually a third of the globe. Following the industrial revolution, London grew to become a hub for worldwide trade drawing in men and women from across the planet as its population rose to one million inhabitants.

It was throughout this Victorian era that the basic framework of sofa design and style was refined as an industrial procedure. From framework to padding, springs to support plus finally cover , London Sofas became renowned across Europe for their long lasting comfort and style. With modern technologies lowering the price of production, sofas became much more cost effective than ever before putting in the groundwork for modern mass-production methods to take off inside the 19th and 20th centuries.

Possibly one of the most revered London Sofas would be the iconic Chesterfield which features a deep buttoned cover, rolled arms and is traditionally upholstered in organic leather. Initially made by the Earl of Chesterfield, the account runs that he wished to create a comfortable seat which didn't wrinkle a Gentleman's formal apparel. Achieving this objective with aplomb, it wasn't long before the Chesterfield Sofa became a favourite of the British elite, even featuring within the British Houses of Parliament. Whilst the clothes of the day has since changed, the Chesterfield remains a world famous icon.

A second London Sofa would be the Howard Sofa which continues to be the best-selling sofa design within the UK over one hundred years following its original creation. Featuring low arms with a gently curled sprung back support and a deep seated style, the Howard is still a country home classic and is frequently completed with brass castors to add a unique element to the design. In contrast to the austere, formal Chesterfield, the Howard is ageless yet also gentle and casual making it the favoured selection for conservatories or modern living spaces where a classic style is favored.

Both the Chesterfield and also the Howard are iconic London Sofas, made in a golden age for Upholstery. Nonetheless, in many ways 21st Century London will continue to lead the way with regards to upholstery . With small pockets of knowledge from Chelsea to Mayfair, London is once more making a name for itself on the world stage as younger British upholsterers redevelop classic designs and push the boundaries of modern home decor.




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