Chesterfield
Also called Chesterfield sofa, Chesterfield couch, Chesterfield chair, Tufted Chesterfield
A classic seating form defined by deep button tufting, rolled arms equal in height to the back, and tailored upholstery.
The Chesterfield sofa is defined by rolled arms set at the exact same height as its back, paired with deep diamond-button tufting and traditional nailhead trim. The design traces to 18th-century England, where Philip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, commissioned a tailored leather seat that allowed gentlemen to sit upright without creasing their coats.
Available as settees, three-seater sofas, or deep club chairs, these pieces anchor living rooms, studies, and libraries. Classic iterations feature dark leather with turned wood bun feet. Modern variations introduce velvet or linen upholstery, high-back silhouettes, and brass caster feet.
When examining a pre-owned piece, look for a corner-blocked hardwood frame and eight-way hand-tied coil springs. Quality shows in deep, hand-pulled tufting anchored directly into the frame structure, clean hand-pleated leather around the arms, and plush, dense padding.