Where Does Leather for Chesterfield Sofas Come From?
Chesterfield Sofas Leather is a natural, durable material derived from the curing of animal hides through a process known as tanning. Each hide carries unique characteristics, such as:
- Individual Marks: Scratches, growth marks, and varying fiber densities that contribute to the uniqueness of each piece.
- Natural Durability: These features do not affect the quality but add to the charm and authenticity of the leather used for Chesterfield sofas.
How Is Upholstery Leather Made?
The creation of upholstery leather involves several intricate stages to ensure its quality and durability:
Step-by-Step Leather Processing:
- Salting: Before the tanning process, hides are salted to preserve them.
- Chemical Bath: The hides are treated with chemicals to remove hair follicles and increase thickness to around 8mm.
- Splitting: The hide is sliced into two layers:
- The top layer with its grained surface is used for furniture upholstery.
- The lower layer is transformed into split leather.
- Tanning with Chromium: The top layer undergoes chromium tanning, replacing older methods that used vegetable extracts, ensuring a more consistent finish.
Types of Leather for Chesterfield Sofas
Different finishes and coatings give leather its final look and durability, with pigmented leather being a popular choice for Chesterfield sofas:
Pigmented Leather
- Advantages:
- High durability and resistance to soiling and fading.
- Consistent texture across the surface.
- Customization Options: Can be embossed, printed, or left plain, offering a variety of finishes for a personalized look.
