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.
Gilded Mirage: Contemporary Abstract Wool & Silk Masterpiece of Rare Refinement
Located in Dallas, TX
31047 One-of-A-Kind Artisan High-Low Contemporary Wool & Silk Rug, 09'02 x 11'11. Evoking the quiet grandeur of timeworn frescoes and eroded patinas, this hand knotted wool and silk ...
Wool, Silk
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Zabihi Collection Vintage Turkish Oushak
Located in New York, NY
A one-of-a-kind vintage Turkish Oushak decorative throw rug. 3'5'' x 5'4''
Wool
Zabihi Collection Large Antique Persian Sarouk
Located in New York, NY
A stunning full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug in mahogany red and royal blue. 12'1'' x 15'2'' early 20th century
Wool
New Modern Light Gray Turkish Oushak Rug with Transitional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53949 New Modern Light Gray Turkish Oushak Rug, 09'02 x 13'00. This exquisite hand-knotted wool Turkish Oushak rug exemplifies the elegance and serenity of modern design while drawin...
Wool
New Contemporary Art Deco Wool & Silk Textured Carpet
Located in Dallas, TX
31042 Contemporary Art Deco Rug, 06'08 x 10'00. This stunning contemporary Art Deco rug showcases a masterful blend of linear geometric art forms, rendered in a sophisticated palette...
Wool, Silk
New Contemporary Oushak Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
80840 New Vintage-Inspired Modern Oushak Runner, 02'07 x 11'07. This hand-knotted wool vintage-style modern Oushak rug runner from Pakistan is a tribute to the centuries-old weaving ...
Wool
New Contemporary Turkish Oushak Rug with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50729 Modern Oushak Turkish Rug, 09'03 X 12'06. Experience the harmonious convergence of contemporary elegance, Biophilic Design, and sustainable craftsmanship in our hand-knotted wo...
Wool
Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Turkish Oushak carpet from the second quarter of the 20th century. Measures: 7' 3" x 8' 8"
Wool
Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug
Located in Rio Vista, CA
This beautiful Turkish rug has a formal central medallion in deep indigo blue and cream with intricate floral patterns over a crimson background. The field is also heavily adorned wi...
Wool
Antique Red Persian Floral Sarouk Carpet
Located in Dallas, TX
78914 Vintage Persian Sarouk Rug, 03'05 x 04'10. Discover the enchanting beauty of this hand-knotted wool vintage Persian Sarouk rug, a masterpiece that captures the essence of Persi...
Wool
Antique Turkish Oushak Rug
Located in WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA
A divine antique Turkish Oushak rug. This piece encompasses a tasteful geometric design. Neutral tones and an antique red gives the piece just the right amount of color. Oushak rugs ...
Wool
$7,999Sale Price|20% Off
W 120 in L 156 in
Antique Persian Sarouk Area Rug with American Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
74952, antique Persian Sarouk rug with Rustic American Traditional style. With timeless appeal and time-softened colors, this hand knotted wool an...
Wool
Turkish Oushak Rug New Contemporary
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A area sized Turkish Oushak rug. The pile is made of high end quality wool - hand spun, hand dyed with all vegetable dyes and knotted by master weavers in a dense quality. The rug is...
Wool
Contemporary Handmade Turkish Oushak Room Size Carpet
Located in New York, NY
A modern Turkish Oushak room size carpet handmade during the 21st century. Measures: 10' 1" x 14' 6".
Wool
$1,019Sale Price / item|40% Off
W 96.46 in L 120.08 in
Union Jack Patchwork Rug. Handmade from Vintage Turkish Rugs British Flag Design
Located in Spring Valley, NY
This striking Union Jack patchwork rug is a bold reinterpretation of British heritage design, meticulously handcrafted from authentic mid-20th century Anatolian rugs. Each vintage fr...
Wool, Cotton
Antique Red Persian Sarouk Rug with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
79222 Antique Red Persian Sarouk Rug, 08'08 x 15'07. This hand-knotted wool antique Persian Sarouk rug is a masterpiece of ornamental storytelling and technical prowess, steeped in t...
Wool
Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
53619 Vintage Muted Turkish Oushak Rug, 04'08 x 07'00. Antique-washed Turkish Oushak rugs with subdued colors are Oushak rugs that have undergone a specialized washing process withou...
Wool
$14,000
W 79.53 in L 113 in
New Hereke Wool & Cotton Carpet - Turkish Anatolian Red Ground Traditional Rug
Located in Tokyo, JP
This unique Wool Hereke Carpet is among the highest-quality carpets in the Hereke workshop. There is a flower lattice on a deep red background with the fineness of the weave, the use...
Wool, Natural Fiber, Organic Material
$479 / item
W 35.44 in L 59.06 in
MELD Hand Tufted Contemporary Wool & Silk Rug in Green and Grey Colours by Hands
Located in New Delhi, IN
From brutalist concrete cubes to sky-scraping structures in steel, the world of urban architecture is an ever-continuous documentary of the human spirit. Encompassing its many dimens...
Wool, Silk, Bamboo
Earth Tone Persian Accent Square Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
1930's Persian Bakhtiari carpet in earth tones. The field is light blue, accents in brown, rust, oatmeal Measures: 5'3'' x 6'6''.
Wool
Persian Malayer Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Persian Malayer with soft colored abrashed field. Super quality piece with great texture and patina.
Wool
Antique Persian Sarouk
Located in New York, NY
A full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug in mahagany red and royal blue. Rare size and color combination.
Wool
Vintage Midcentury Turkish Checkerboard Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Turkish rug with a khaki and brown checkerboard pattern. Size: 3'3" x 4'8".
Wool
Brown Field Karabagh Corridor Gallery Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
A rare size early 20th century gallery Karabagh rug in predominant soft browns and terracotta accents. Measures: 6'8" x 19'7" The name Karabagh translates to “Black Garden” i...
Wool
Vintage turkish Checkerboard shag Rug
Located in New York, NY
An appealing Checkerboard rug with apricot and sage color accents.