As legend has it, the Chesterfield-style design was first commissioned in the 1700s by the Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Phillip Stanhope. The Earl was a wealthy nobleman in Georgian era, which is renowned for the most gracious periods in British history. The story goes that he wanted a striking leather sofa with a low seat and high back to allow his gentlemen to sit comfortably without creasing their suits. As a result, the iconic Chesterfield design was created.
As an admired politician and nobleman, he was somewhat of a trendsetter too. But how exactly did these first few Chesterfield sofas become world-renowned? It’s believed that, on his deathbed, On March 24th, 1773 Lord Stanhope told his butler to ‘give Mr Dayrolles a chair’, intending for his butler to pull up a seat for his godson, Mr Dayrolles. However, his butler interpreted this to mean that the Chesterfield chair should be passed onto him and arranged for it to be transported to his home. It wasn’t long before other wealthy members of the upper-class society had their own Chesterfield sofas and chairs commissioned for their homes, cementing the style as a sign of wealth and class.
Britain began to expand around the globe between the late 16th and early 18th centuries, forming what we know as the British Empire. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Empire reached its peak, Wherever the British went, they brought along their favourite furniture, including the Chesterfield. Becoming associated with luxury and quality the world over, it continued to grow in popularity and featured in many locations where a touch of class was desired. Before long, the luxurious Chesterfield design became a huge hit all across the world, exemplifying class and style wherever it went.