Sofa
Howard and Sons Ltd.
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1890
Materials
Leather, oak
Measurements
85 x 226 x 79 cm
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Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
NT 1213924
Summary
An upholstered chesterfield sofa, English, supplied by Howard & Sons, circa 1890. Covered in brown leather, with square sides and back, the deep seat raised on turned tapering oak legs, back leg stamped 6697 5117 and printed paper label to underside 'EASY CHAIR & SOFA FACTORY, HOWARD & SONS, Upholsterers, 25, 26 & 27 Berners Street, LONDON. PATENT DINING TABLES' and in hand-writing '6697 7604'.
Full description
John Howard originally established his firm at 24 Lemon Street in London in 1820. The firm grew to become one of the most fashionable and successful of the 19th century, participating in many of the International Exhibitions, working for many important clients and providing furniture for a variety of country houses. But it is primarily for their superior upholstered furniture that they remain so well-known today, most of which is stamped or labelled. They were based in the heart of the West End at 25 and 35 Berners Street from 1854, but then finally settled in the 1870s at 25, 26 and 27 Berners Street until 1935 when for a brief spell they were at 31 Old Burlington Street. They ceased trading in 1947.
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of seat: EASY CHAIR & SOFA FACTORY, HOWARD & SONS, Upholsterers, 25, 26 & 27 Berners Street, LONDON. PATENT DINING TABLES (and in hand-writing) 6697 7604
Makers and roles
Howard and Sons Ltd., manufacturer