Traditional Buttoned Sofa
A traditional buttoned sofa brings deep comfort and formal line to a room through centuries of established seating design.
Traditional Buttoned Sofa
A traditional buttoned sofa encompasses low-slung Chesterfields, double-ended settees, and framed chaise longues originating primarily across the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The version most commonly met on this page is the leather or fabric Chesterfield, appearing in brown, whiskey, and red tones alongside mahogany-framed chaises.
Makers such as Howard and Sons, Hampton and Sons, and Jas Shoolbred shape the higher end of these offerings, placing nineteenth-century craftsmanship centre stage.
Materials and construction
Frames combine hardwood and mahogany timbers to support deep-sprung bases and coiled seating structures.
Upholstery relies on traditional horsehair stuffing beneath hand-dyed leather, deep pile brocade, or velvet, secured with systematic tuffting and buttoning.
Traditional Buttoned Sofa Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for traditional buttoned sofa among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some nineteenth-century chaises arrive ready for total reupholstering, offering a blank canvas for velvet and tassel trims.
Judging the build
The integrity of the internal coil springing and original horsehair stuffing dictates the longevity and resilience of the seat.
The treatment of the leather, from raw hides intended for custom hand-dyeing to patinated nineteenth-century surfaces, defines the tactile character of the piece.
Howard and Sons·Hampton and Sons·Jas Shoolbred
The Traditional Buttoned Sofa Glossary
- Chesterfield
- A large upholstered sofa with arms and back of the same height, featuring deep button tuffting throughout the interior.
- Chaise Longue
- An upholstered long chair designed for reclining, often featuring a single raised scrolled end or backrest.
- Horsehair
- A traditional stuffing material utilised in upholstery for its springiness and durability over decades of use.
- Brocade
- A rich decorative fabric woven with raised patterns, often appearing in deep pile variations on nineteenth-century frames.
Traditional Buttoned Sofa: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a traditional buttoned sofa?
A traditional buttoned sofa is a deep-seated piece of upholstered furniture characterised by indented tuffting secured with buttons across the back and arms.
These pieces typically date from the Victorian era onward and utilise sturdy hardwood frames paired with leather or heavy fabric coverings.
How do I care for leather upholstery?
Leather upholstery requires regular dusting and occasional treatment with appropriate conditioners to maintain flexibility in the hide.
Keeping the material away from direct heat sources prevents the hand-dyed surfaces from drying and cracking over time.
Where were these sofas used?
These sofas found placement in nineteenth-century libraries, drawing rooms, and formal reception spaces where seating comfort met social status.
Today they function equally well as central statement pieces in domestic living rooms or studies.
How do I identify a Victorian piece?
Victorian identification relies on observing timber frames made of mahogany or rosewood, combined with traditional coil springing methods.
Maker stamps on wooden legs or castors often provide definitive attribution to workshops active during the nineteenth century.