Chesterfield club armchair

The Chesterfield armchair, a club armchair like any other?

The Chesterfield armchair is indeed a club armchair with a particularly characteristic upholstered seat. This armchair, designed in the 18th century by Lord Philipp Stanhope, was a revolution compared to the principles of furnishing at the time. Its seat, lower than the Louis XV or Louis XVI sofas or armchairs, as well as its upholstered, buttoned back, set with leather, which became curved, appeared as a profound change in view of the practical principles and aesthetic criteria of its time.

The Chesterfield armchair in the modern era

Today, the Chesterfield club armchair or sofa is a particularly widespread piece of furniture with timeless elegance. Its vintage side reminds us of the upholstered armchairs that occupied the living rooms of our homes, like thrones. If we didn't have the whole set of armchairs and sofas, we all had a grandfather who cherished his one club armchair.

Tradition follows its course and that is why La Maison Saulaie works to bring out reminiscences. We work as a bridge linked to traditions with our artisanal manufacturing methods. On the other hand, we make sure to stay modern with vintage and contemporary designs. We also adapt the formats of our armchairs to smaller spaces. Finally, we make sure to offer you armchair models with the best value for money.

How to select a good Chesterfield club armchair?

The design being now relatively fixed and widespread throughout the world, the ultimate key to selecting an upholstered club armchair or a Chesterfield club sofa lies in the selection of the materials used, the manufacturing methods and the treatment of the leather for an aged effect that respects the integrity of the animal's skin. 

The Chesterfield club armchair therefore has a solid beech structure, a guarantee of solidity and durability over time. Its full-grain leather (basane) is a buffalo leather that is both supple, comfortable and particularly solid. With a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm, the leather is treated with natural products according to a well-known artisanal method: we are talking about aniline leather armchair. No planing or chemical treatment applied to the leather, in order to maintain the traces of the animal's life on the skin, and thus obtain this aged effect for a successful vintage armchair. The leather seams are saddle seams, which means that each stitch is sewn independently of the others to avoid taking the entire seam in the event of a fastening point breaking. 

Finally, a particularly sensitive point for the armchair or Chesterfield sofa model, the upholstery or buttoning is particularly important. Worked manually, equipped with a long needle, the craftsman passes through the leather or fabric to attach the button to the structure of the armchair. Long, delicate and physical, this quality work is the most important element to guarantee the durability of the products. 

Of course, the last point you have to deal with will be the more or less modern design, as well as the upholstery: leather, velvet, fabric.

The Chesterfield club armchair with a compact design and customisable finish

The Chesterfield armchair is a traditionally bulky product with a strong footprint on the ground. Its armrests rounded towards the outside of the seat are a promise of moments of relaxation that are delightful in every way, but its democratisation has raised questions in recent years as to its adaptability in smaller urban spaces. This is why La Maison Saulaie has designed these smaller leather armchairs, more compact with a buttoned back. The new design of this upholstered club armchair is particularly suited to the more urban contemporary lifestyle. 

La Maison Saulaie has developed 13 distinct leather colours with a wide range of cotton, linen, mottled textile or even warm velvet fabrics. We want to be a bridge between tradition and modernity, and allow as many people as possible to access top-of-the-range, semi-customised manufacturing workshops for personalised interiors.