Saturday, August 17, 2013

The Story Of Sofas In London

By Frank Field


The contemporary sofa traces its origins right back to Egypt with home bench chairs buried with the tombs of the Pharoahs. Nevertheless, it wasn't until considerably later on that upholstered furniture emerged together with the application of classic materials such as horsehair as well as feather and down. Finally in the eighteenth Century, the modern day sofa surfaced as upholstery became an established occupation together with the creation of a professional body in London. Here is a quick history of London Sofa Furniture from its origins towards the present day.

The City of London, initially established by the Romans at the first passable crossing of the River Thames, has an extraordinary and extremely diverse style heritage stretching back over 2000 years. The authentic international city, London rose to importance as the capital of the British Empire which at its peak stretched across the globe covering practically 1 / 3 of the world. Following the manufacturing revolution, London became a centre for global trade drawing in men and women from across the globe as its populace rose to one million residents.

It was throughout this Victorian era that the fundamental framework of sofa design and style was refined as an industrial approach. From framework to padding, springs to padding plus cover , London Sofas grew to become celebrated across Europe for their long lasting quality, comfort and design. With contemporary technology lowering the cost of production, sofas became far more cost efficient than ever before putting in the groundwork for contemporary mass-production strategies to commence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Probably one of the most regarded London Sofas is the iconic Chesterfield which features a buttoned top cover, rolled arms and is historically upholstered in organic leather. Originally made by the Earl of Chesterfield, the account goes that he wished to make a comfy seat which didn't crease a Gentleman's professional apparel. Attaining this objective with aplomb, it wasn't long before the Chesterfield Sofa became a favourite of the British elite, even featuring within the British Parliament. Whilst the clothing of the day has changed, the Chesterfield remains a world popular icon.

A 2nd London Sofa is the Howard Sofa which remains the best-selling sofa design in the UK more than one hundred years following its original inception. Featuring low arms with a delicately curved sprung back along with a deep seated style, the Howard is still a country residence classic and is frequently finished with castors to add an idiosyncratic element to the design. In contrast to the formal Chesterfield, the Howard is ageless yet also light and casual making it the favoured choice for conservatories or modern living spaces where a traditional style is favored.

Both the Chesterfield as well as the Howard are famous London Sofas, made in a golden era for Upholstery. However, in a lot of ways 21st Century London will continue to take the lead when it comes to upholstery . With pockets of expertise from Chelsea to the Kings Road, London is again making a name for itself around the global stage as younger British upholsterers revisit classic designs and push the boundaries of contemporary household furniture.




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