The expansion of the British Empire brought Chesterfield sofas around the world, such as in Canada, where the word “chesterfield” refers to any type of sofa. Antique Chesterfield-style furniture now includes seating in a range of sizes and aesthetics, from velvet love seats and linen-upholstered club chairs to ottomans accompanying classic leather sofas.
Popular lore dates the Chesterfield sofa to Philip Dormer Stanhope, fourth earl of Chesterfield. The arbiter of taste and manners in 18th-century England was best known for publishing guides on how to behave in society to attain success. The story goes that he commissioned a sofa in the mid-1700s designed so he could sit on it while not wrinkling his clothes. He later bequeathed it to his godson, and the seating style spread in popularity, eventually becoming an icon of British interior design.
Although this origin is not recorded, it resonates with the iconic sofa’s urbane sophistication. Traditionally made with tall rolled arms the same height as the back, deep buttoning on dark brown leather upholstery, tacked trim and an imposing yet elegant profile, it evokes English estates and the gentlemen’s clubs of London. It became a staple amid the Victorian era’s embrace of comfort. Tartan versions were in Queen Victoria’s drawing room at Balmoral Castle, giving the space a Scottish flair.
Some Chesterfield sofas are slimmed down in shape, others have taller legs for a lighter appearance. And while leather Chesterfield sofas are a more common variant — and can easily elevate a workspace as luxury office furniture — a velvet Chesterfield sofa possesses a singular chameleonic property, softening and emboldening the spaces it inhabits. Whether it’s the focal point of a living room, hotel lobby or trendy restaurant, the Chesterfield remains a status symbol, channeling the sophisticated tastes of its namesake.
Find a collection of antique Chesterfield seating, including sofas, settees, armchairs and lounge chairs, on 1stDibs.
$1,150Sale Price|20% Off
Sarreid Faux Leather Gilt Books Folding Screen Room Divider
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An impressive 4 panel Trompe L'Oeil screen or room divider featuring classic books on what appears to be bookshelves. The books include a wide range of studies and titles such as Dic...
Metal
$13,147Sale Price|20% Off
EXQUISITE LIMiTED EDITION RALPH LAUREN RUE ROYALE CHESTERFIELD TUFTED SLEIGH BED
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this handmade in America, Ralph Lauren Rue Royal King sleight bed with American Walnut Gold Gilt frame and C...
Brass
Miniature Painted Union Jack Leather Chesterfield Sofa – Vintage British Style
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 20th/Early 21st c. a striking handcrafted miniature Chesterfield sofa, meticulously designed with a distressed dark navy leather exterior and a hand-painted Union Jack motif. Me...
Brass
$7,685Sale Price|30% Off
Exceptional 19th Century Hand Carved Italian Walnut Day Bed Cherub Putti's Angel
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare Circa 1840-1860 hand carved walnut Italian daybed with cherub putti decoration and chesterfield tufting What a find! Thi...
Walnut
ROCHE BOBOIS LEATHER EMPEROR SiZED MAESTRO CHESTERFIELD TUFTED BED FRAME
By Roche Bobois
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this RRP £9,950 handmade in Italy Emperor sized grey leather Chesterfield tufted Roche Bobois Maestro bedfra...
Leather
$1,592Sale Price|20% Off
H 57.09 in W 47.25 in D 1.58 in
1970s Italian room divider folding screen in style, Siso
Located in Nicolosi, IT
Double-sided screen by Siso, Italy, mid-century This is a charming double-sided screen from the 1970s, created by Siso, which combines functionality and aesthetics in a unique piece....
Wood
Chinoiserie Eight Panel Coromandel Folding Screen, Room Divider
Located in Hanover, MA
Chinese export lacquered coromandel folding screen with 8 panels 84” high x 16” wide each x 0.5” thick. Maximum width 128”. Stylized landscape design on both front and back featuring...
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
Classic Tufted Leather King Bed
Located in Westwood, NJ
This stunning bed is upholstered in black leather, offering a smooth, sophisticated feel. The elegant tufted design on the headboard and footboard adds a classic touch, while the Fre...
Leather, Wood
Chevron Tufted Upholstered King Bed
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Chevron tufted upholstered king bed with an Ash Driftwood finish frame. It has a tall upholstered headboard with a modern channel tufting desig...
Wood
$2,494Sale Price|20% Off
H 70.48 in W 61.42 in D 1.58 in
Rattan Bamboo Folding Screen Room Divider, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching handcrafted rattan / wicker and bamboo three-panel folding screen / room divider with filigree decoration. Manufactured in Spain, 1960s. This rattan folding screen combi...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Cane
$5,507Sale Price|50% Off
H 62.21 in W 59.06 in D 84.65 in
19th Century Hand Carved and Hand Painted Queen Size Bed Frame Louis XVI Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century exquisite queen size beautifully hand carved bed frame in the elegant Louis XVI style. The headboard and footboard frames are raised on si...
Cane, Wood
$15,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 58 in W 66 in D 116 in
Ralph Lauren Clivedon Tufted Black Leather Bed Queen Size
By Ralph Lauren
Located in North York, ON
Ralph Lauren designed Clivedon Queen bed, Neo-Classical sleigh bed with scroll headboard and footboard upholstered in tufted supple black leather. Brass claw foot details and gilt ac...
Brass
Rosewood King Size Slatted Sleigh Bed
Located in Germantown, MD
Absolutely beautiful King Size Slatted Sleigh Bed in rosewood finish in very good Vintage condition. Comes with hardware and original mattress slats. Measures 81" in width, 94" in l...
Hardwood, Rosewood
Ralph Lauren Art Deco Style Lacquered Duke Nightstand
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exquisite Italian Art Deco style lacquered Duke three-drawer nightstand or chest designed by Ralph Lauren. The "Duke" collection inspired by 1930s design features piano finished blac...
Steel
Chinoiserie Folding Screen or Room Divider
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
China, 1940s-1960s Folding screen or room divider in black lacquer with hand painted decoration. Chic and functional chinoiserie piece. Each side of the screen has a different design...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
$13,600
H 37 in W 57.5 in D 77.5 in
Jacques Adnet Style Leather and Brass Full Size Bed Frame, France 1950s
Located in Chicago, IL
Jacques Adnet style Leather and Brass Full Size Bed Frame, France 1950s. Bed frame is saddle stitched leather over steel, brass. Bed frame shows beautiful rich patina. Measures 37"...
Brass
$3,000
H 29.5 in W 25 in D 31 in
Ralph Lauren Home Cannes Mahogany & Brass End or Bedside Table, French Style
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Ralph Lauren home cannes end or bedside table with concealed single drawer. Beautifully patterned Mahogany wood top is trimmed in solid brass. Curved Mahogony wood legs feature decorative brass fittings. This tall rectangular French style table...
Brass
Sold
H 53.35 in W 65.36 in D 105.52 in
And so to Bed Bonaparte King Size Bed Chesterfield Deep Blue Leather
By And So To Bed
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in England, RRP £10,430, And So To Bed Bonaparte, Chesterfield blue leather king size bedframe...
Leather, Hardwood
Brown Tan Leather Tufted Custom Full Size Headboard Bed
By Chesterfield
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Brown to tan tufted leather custom Chesterfield headboard.
Leather, Hardwood
Sold
H 57.49 in W 83.47 in D 98.43 in
Stunning King Size Aged Brown Leather Chesterfield Tufted Bed Inc Mattress Divan
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made Chesterfield brown leather king size bedframe, mattress and divan bases A very good look...
Leather
Red Leather Tufted Chesterfield Sleeper Sofa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Red leather chesterfield sleeper sofa - Rare to find, pull-out, sleeper sofa in the sophisticated chesterfield style. A compliment to any livi...
Metal
Collection of 34 Scandinavian Antique Leather-Bound Books
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A collection of 34 Swedish decorative antique leather-bound library books This lot of books on literature from Sweden are wrapped in beautiful vintage leather-bound covers, compri...
Leather, Paper
3 Sets of Swedish Vintage Leather Backed Books, Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Two feet of 18 Swedish vintage leather backed books from the early 20th century The 18 books are 3 sets of Swedish books with complimentary shipping included.
Leather
Set of 14 Swedish Vintage Leather-Bound Books, Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Almost 2 feet of Swedish leather backed books from the early 20th century The 14 Swedish books with complimentary shipping.
Leather
3 Sets of Swedish Vintage Leather Backed Books, Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Two feet of 18 Swedish vintage leather backed books from the early 20th Century The 18 books are 3 sets of Swedish books with complimentary shipping included Please note that we ha...
Leather
Small Table Poolgame with 2 Billiard Cues from the 1950s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Billiard game from the 1950s with blue playing surface.
Wood