how to measure an antique sofa for alcove?

Measure the widest point, which is usually across the outside of the rolled arms, rather than the seat base. Sometimes the arms splay outwards a fair bit. Take the depth from the front of the belly to the back leg. You need to know it clears the skirting board when pushed back.

I have inherited a large sofa and I need to know what sort of fabric is right for reupholstering a Georgian frame properly?

Most dealers use a tightly woven wool damask or a plain linen. These allow the shape of the frame to show through without fighting the lines. Striped silks were popular in the late eighteenth century for formal rooms. Avoid heavy modern synthetics or anything with a large repeat pattern. Keep the edges sharp and ask the upholsterer to avoid overstuffing the seat.

what is a drop in seat?

Some early sofas have a wooden inner frame holding the cushion. It lifts straight out of the main seat rails. You find it more often on chairs. It made changing the fabric fast.

We are looking at a sofa with eight legs but the middle ones do not touch the floor when it is empty, why?

Wood moves over two centuries. A large carcase will often bow slightly in the centre as the joints settle and the timber dries out. Uneven floors in old houses also contribute to this stance. Once people sit on the frame, the weight pushes the central legs down to meet the floor. It stops the main rails from snapping under the load. Many old frames have castors added or removed over time. Check if the middle legs have lost their brass cups, leaving them shorter than the outer ones.

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Antique Georgian Sofas

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Built for formal drawing rooms, an Antique Georgian Sofa is a long upholstered seat resting on an exposed wooden frame that gave guests a place to sit side by side.