Chesterfield sofas and sectionals are always classy and uptrend. They appeared to conquer the tastes of home designers more than a decade ago, and still furniture brands are inventing the creations in various textures and colors, making slight or brave changes in shape designs. Chesterfields are both cozy and tailored and can offer a good seating solution for any room – from gent’s club to a classic living room and a consistent office, from the library to a feminine living space or apartment. Let’s dive deeper into the style and history of Chesterfield style with the FurniturePick today!
Chesterfields are the seating furniture pieces for a living room (sofas, sectionals, couches, chairs, and loveseats) with rolled arms the same height as the back of the furniture item. Usually, they are with deep button tufting and the nail-head trim. History holds the legend it’s been invented in Britain, when the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Philip Stanhope, commissioned a sofa like that in the middle of the 18th century.
You’ll be quite surprised with the request the Lord sent to the local craftsman – the Earl of Chesterfield wanted a sofa for a gentleman to sit without putting creases in his suit. The craftsmen came up with a solution that became the forerunner of the Chesterfield sofa. Later this piece of furniture gained the name of the Earl who made the order.
The Lord was an admired writer and politician, known as a trendsetter of his time. Being the representative of Britain’s wealthy aristocratic class, the furniture invention of his has swiftly gained success.
The mid-18th century made a colossal leap in the design of new shapes of sofas. Worth mentioning, sofas had only been around since about 1690. Before, they had benches since comfort was not a priority in furniture until the 1700s. Afterward, the furniture manufacturers worked towards creating as comfortable and functional furniture as one can imagine.
Undoubtedly, one of the most iconic uses of a Chesterfield sofa was in the office of Sigmund Freud, the grandfather of psychoanalysis. Freud found out that the most effective way of extracting the patient’s innermost thoughts and feelings was to get them to speak freely, without any fear of blame. The success of such therapy hinged on the patient being fully relaxed, and a comfortable sofa would play a key role in it. The fact Freud chose a Chesterfield for his work speaks about the style’s ultimate comfort and luxurious feel.
