Wednesday, August 21, 2013

London's Sofa Story

By Frank Field


The contemporary sofa traces its origins back to Egypt with home seating buried among the tombs of the Pharoahs. Nonetheless, it wasn't till significantly later on that upholstered furnishings emerged with all the application of traditional materials like horsehair as well as feather . Finally in the 18th Century, the modern sofa surfaced as upholstery became a recognised occupation together with the creation of a professional body in London. Here is a brief history of London Sofa Upholstery from its origins to the the present.

The City of London, originally founded by the Romans at the first passable crossing on the River Thames, has an incredible and incredibly diverse style heritage stretching back more than 2000 years. The authentic worldwide city, London rose to prominence as the capital of the British Empire which at its height stretched around the world covering practically 1 / 3 of the planet. Following the manufacturing revolution, London grew to become a centre for global trade drawing in people from all over the world as its populace 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 method. From framework to cushioning, springs to padding plus finally top cover , London Sofas grew to become celebrated across Europe for their enduring comfort and style. With modern technologies lowering the cost of production, sofas became much more cost effective than ever before putting in the groundwork for contemporary mass-production techniques to commence inside the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Possibly the most regarded London Sofas would be the iconic Chesterfield which features a deep buttoned cover, folded arms and is traditionally upholstered in all-natural leather. Originally designed by the Earl of Chesterfield, the story runs that he wished to make a comfy seat which didn't wrinkle a Gentleman's professional attire. Attaining this aim , it wasn't long before the Chesterfield Sofa became a favourite of the British elite, even featuring inside the British Houses of Parliament. While the clothing of the day has changed, the Chesterfield remains a world well-known icon.

A second London Sofa would be the Howard Sofa which continues to be the best-selling design within the United kingdom over 100 years following its original inception. Featuring low arms with a gently curled back support as well as a deep seated design, the Howard remains a country home classic and is frequently finished with castors to include a unique element . As opposed to the austere, formal Chesterfield, the Howard is ageless yet also light and casual making it the favoured selection for conservatories or modern day living spaces where a classic style is preferred.

Both the Chesterfield as well as the Howard are legendary London Sofas, created within a golden age for British Upholstery. However, in a lot of ways 21st Century London will continue to take the lead in terms of upholstery . With pockets of expertise from Chelsea Harbour to Mayfair, London is again creating a name for itself on the world stage as young British upholsterers rework classic styles and push the boundaries of modern residential furniture.




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