Leather upholstery is the covering of chairs, sofas, stools and other seating with leather, usually cowhide, over a padded and sprung or stuffed frame. Hard-wearing, comfortable and improving with age, leather has been used for seating in libraries, studies, clubs and offices for centuries.
In seventeenth-century England leather seats and backs, fixed with decorative brass nails, were common on oak and walnut chairs, and Cromwellian chairs were often covered in this way. Leather became especially associated with the Victorian and Edwardian gentleman's library and club, epitomised by the deep-buttoned Chesterfield sofa, wing chairs, club chairs and desk chairs. French Art Deco club chairs of the 1920s and 1930s in tan or brown leather are also widely collected. Antique leather develops a rich patina through use, with softened colour, creasing and wear on arms and seats that many buyers find appealing. Collectors and buyers should check for splits, dry or flaking surfaces, sagging seats and broken springs, and whether the leather is original or a later recovering. Regular feeding with suitable leather conditioner helps prevent cracking, and direct sunlight and radiators should be avoided.
