The history, design and the enduring appeal of a classic English furniture style – and how the Knole settee influenced our own Vesper sofa…
Born in a Tudor palace more than four centuries ago, the Knole sofa’s distinctive upright arms, deep seat and elegant cords have made it one of the great enduring classics of English furniture design.
This guide explores where the Knole settee came from, how it works, and why its design continues to inspire sofa makers today…
A sofa from a palace
The Knole sofa – or settee – takes its name from Knole House, the vast Tudor and Stuart palace in Kent that was once the home of the Sackville family and is now cared for by the National Trust.
During the early 17th century, English furniture was undergoing a transformation. For centuries seating, like so much else, had been hierarchical: chairs were reserved for important individuals, while most people sat on benches or stools. But by the late Tudor and early Stuart periods domestic life was changing. Houses became more comfortable and private, and upholstered furniture began appearing in aristocratic interiors.
The Knole settees belong to this time, when seating was becoming both more sociable and more comfortable. Instead of a simple bench or rigid chair, it offered a generously upholstered seat flanked by tall upright arms, connected by decorative cords that allowed the arms to be raised or lowered.
The result was an object that combined a sort of ceremonial presence with a degree of physical comfort. It looked appropriate in a grand room, yet it also allowed its occupants to sit back and relax, which was actually a rather progressive idea for the early 1600s.
Virginia House, constructed from the materials of the 16th-century Priory House in Warwickshire. Note the Knole sofa on the right. (Image: creative commons)
It is worth remembering that the original Knole pieces were not described as “sofas” at all — the word would not become common in English furniture vocabulary until the eighteenth century. Contemporary inventories usually referred to such pieces as settees or couches, and they often functioned partly as daybeds, allowing occupants to recline rather than sit formally upright. In that sense the Knole represents an early stage in the evolution of the modern sofa: a piece of furniture designed not just for display, but for comfort and relaxation.
Anatomy of a Knole sofa
Although interpretations vary, a true Knole sofa can usually be recognised by a small number of distinctive features.
The classic elements include:
Upright adjustable arms The arms are typically the same height as the back and can be raised or lowered using cords threaded through decorative finials.
Their exact purpose is still debated, but historians generally suggest two practical reasons. First, the ability to lower the arms made the seat easier to use when wearing the voluminous clothing of the Stuart period. Second, it allowed the piece to function partly as a daybed, enabling occupants to recline rather than sit formally upright.
Whatever the original intention, the cords and tassels quickly became one of the most recognisable decorative elements of the design.
Decorative cords and tassels Originally functional, these cords became one of the most recognisable visual features of the design.
Deep seat Knole sofas are usually generously proportioned, allowing occupants to sit comfortably even in heavy clothing (an important consideration in the Stuart era).
Architectural symmetry The high arms and rectangular proportions give the sofa an almost architectural presence within a room.
Together these elements create a piece of furniture that feels both formal and inviting: reasonably comfy while still retaining enough dignity for a great house
a little bit of history
Knole House: the sofa’s namesake
Knole House in Kent is one of the largest historic houses in England, originally built as an archbishop’s palace in the 15th century before passing to the Sackville family in the early 1600s.
Over the centuries the house became famous for its extraordinary collection of Stuart furniture, tapestries and paintings. Among these pieces were several distinctive upholstered settees with upright adjustable arms connected by cords: the design that would later become known as the Knole settee, or Knole sofa.
These early examples were not originally intended as a mass-produced furniture style. They were bespoke pieces created for the comfort and status of a great household. But their proportions and elegance proved so successful that the design was copied, adapted and reproduced by cabinetmakers for centuries afterwards.
Today Knole House is preserved by the National Trust, and the original sofas can still be seen in the state rooms — a rare opportunity to encounter one of the most influential designs in English furniture history.
Why the Knole sofa design works
Furniture fashions change constantly, yet the Knole has survived for centuries with remarkably little alteration, thanks to some enduring features...
It balances formality with comfort With its arms raised, the Knole feels almost throne-like – perfectly suited to a grand interior. Lower the arms, however, and the piece becomes immediately more relaxed and informal.
The sense of being ‘cocooned’ The high sides also give it a wonderfully ‘enveloping’ feeling. Originally, in big old houses, they may well have been useful for shielding the sitter from cold draughts, but today that feeling of being cocooned is very appealing – it’s a sofa in which you can hide away from the world.
That lovely cocooning feeling... 'Lady on a Sofa' by Harold Gilman (1876–1919). Image: Tate, via Art.UK
It adapts easily to different interiors The Knole’s strong geometry allows it to work in a surprisingly wide range of settings.In a traditional country house it looks entirely at home among antiques and rich fabrics; whole in a modern interior, especially when upholstered in linen or velvet, the same structure can feel nicely understated and unobtrusive. In other words, the design itself is neutral enough to be interpreted again and again.
It was designed around real use Many historic furniture pieces are admired more than they are used, but that doesn’t apply to the Knole. Its generous seat depth, supportive arms and balanced proportions mean it really is a comfy chair, not merely decorative. This practical success is a large part of the reason the design never disappeared from furniture making.
The Knole sofa timeline:
Period
Development
Early 1600s
Upholstered settees appear at Knole House
18th–19th century
Cabinetmakers begin reproducing the design
Early 20th century
Revival in country houses and Arts & Crafts interiors
Today
Contemporary interpretations appear in modern upholstery
The design has therefore remained in continuous use for more than four centuries, a remarkable lifespan for any piece of furniture. Few furniture designs can be traced so clearly to a particular house and moment in history.
The challenge of modern interpretations
Because the Knole is so recognisable, it has been reproduced countless times by furniture manufacturers.
Some versions emphasise the decorative aspects with elaborate tassels and ornate fabrics, perhaps some fancy carved feet. Others simplify the design, retaining the essential proportions while removing much of the ornament.
But there is a deeper question that matters far more than stylistic choices, namely: how the sofa is actually constructed.
The original Knole settees were built by craftsmen working with traditional upholstery techniques and very solid timber frames. These methods were labour-intensive but produced furniture capable of lasting generations.
Many modern reproductions, by contrast, prioritise the external silhouette while simplifying the internal structure. From the outside they may look convincing. Inside, however, they can be built very differently….
The phrase simply means starting with the things that matter most: comfort, structure, good materials and longevity.
Historically, sofa designs like the Knole evolved directly from the craft of upholstery itself. Their shapes were not merely decorative; they reflected the practical realities of materials and joinery.
Today the process is often reversed. A silhouette is designed first – something that looks appealing in photographs or showroom displays – and the internal construction is simplified to meet a price point.
The result may look similar, but it won’t the same way over time and certainly won’t last for generations.
The Vesper: our interpretation of the Knole
The Vesper is our interpretation of the Knole tradition.
Rather than reproducing the design as a historical artefact, our aim was to preserve its essential qualities, with the upright arms and generous seating, as well as a certain indefinable architectural ‘presence’, all while building the sofa using the same construction principles that made the originals successful.
cushions filled predominantly with goose down for softness and resilience
Hand-tied springs are a good example of why these details matter. When the springs are tied together with jute twine they compress collectively, distributing weight evenly across the seat rather than acting as isolated components. The result is a more balanced and comfortable form of support – a method used by the best upholsterers for centuries.
A sofa design that still makes perfect sense
Four centuries after it first appeared in an English palace, the Knole remains one of the most compelling sofa designs ever created. The design survives not through nostalgia but because it was built on sound principles of proportion, practicality and comfort that remain just as relevant today as they were in the 17th century.
Schplendid's Vesper four-seater- a contemporary configuration of a traditional sofa, made with old-fashioned craftsmanship
The Knole’s endurance – and continued expression in sofas like the Vesper – is a reminder that when furniture is designed thoughtfully, constructed properly and made from good materials, the results can endure for generations. And that, we think, is rather Schplendid.
A Schplendid Guide to the Knole Sofa
The history, design and the enduring appeal of a classic English furniture style – and how the Knole settee influenced our own Vesper sofa…
Born in a Tudor palace more than four centuries ago, the Knole sofa’s distinctive upright arms, deep seat and elegant cords have made it one of the great enduring classics of English furniture design.
This guide explores where the Knole settee came from, how it works, and why its design continues to inspire sofa makers today…
A sofa from a palace
The Knole sofa – or settee – takes its name from Knole House, the vast Tudor and Stuart palace in Kent that was once the home of the Sackville family and is now cared for by the National Trust.
During the early 17th century, English furniture was undergoing a transformation. For centuries seating, like so much else, had been hierarchical: chairs were reserved for important individuals, while most people sat on benches or stools. But by the late Tudor and early Stuart periods domestic life was changing. Houses became more comfortable and private, and upholstered furniture began appearing in aristocratic interiors.
The Knole settees belong to this time, when seating was becoming both more sociable and more comfortable. Instead of a simple bench or rigid chair, it offered a generously upholstered seat flanked by tall upright arms, connected by decorative cords that allowed the arms to be raised or lowered.
The result was an object that combined a sort of ceremonial presence with a degree of physical comfort. It looked appropriate in a grand room, yet it also allowed its occupants to sit back and relax, which was actually a rather progressive idea for the early 1600s.
It is worth remembering that the original Knole pieces were not described as “sofas” at all — the word would not become common in English furniture vocabulary until the eighteenth century. Contemporary inventories usually referred to such pieces as settees or couches, and they often functioned partly as daybeds, allowing occupants to recline rather than sit formally upright. In that sense the Knole represents an early stage in the evolution of the modern sofa: a piece of furniture designed not just for display, but for comfort and relaxation.
Anatomy of a Knole sofa
Although interpretations vary, a true Knole sofa can usually be recognised by a small number of distinctive features.
The classic elements include:
Upright adjustable arms
The arms are typically the same height as the back and can be raised or lowered using cords threaded through decorative finials.
Their exact purpose is still debated, but historians generally suggest two practical reasons. First, the ability to lower the arms made the seat easier to use when wearing the voluminous clothing of the Stuart period. Second, it allowed the piece to function partly as a daybed, enabling occupants to recline rather than sit formally upright.
Whatever the original intention, the cords and tassels quickly became one of the most recognisable decorative elements of the design.
Decorative cords and tassels
Originally functional, these cords became one of the most recognisable visual features of the design.
Deep seat
Knole sofas are usually generously proportioned, allowing occupants to sit comfortably even in heavy clothing (an important consideration in the Stuart era).
Architectural symmetry
The high arms and rectangular proportions give the sofa an almost architectural presence within a room.
Together these elements create a piece of furniture that feels both formal and inviting: reasonably comfy while still retaining enough dignity for a great house
a little bit of history
Knole House: the sofa’s namesake
Knole House in Kent is one of the largest historic houses in England, originally built as an archbishop’s palace in the 15th century before passing to the Sackville family in the early 1600s.
Over the centuries the house became famous for its extraordinary collection of Stuart furniture, tapestries and paintings. Among these pieces were several distinctive upholstered settees with upright adjustable arms connected by cords: the design that would later become known as the Knole settee, or Knole sofa.
These early examples were not originally intended as a mass-produced furniture style. They were bespoke pieces created for the comfort and status of a great household. But their proportions and elegance proved so successful that the design was copied, adapted and reproduced by cabinetmakers for centuries afterwards.
Today Knole House is preserved by the National Trust, and the original sofas can still be seen in the state rooms — a rare opportunity to encounter one of the most influential designs in English furniture history.
Why the Knole sofa design works
Furniture fashions change constantly, yet the Knole has survived for centuries with remarkably little alteration, thanks to some enduring features...
It balances formality with comfort
With its arms raised, the Knole feels almost throne-like – perfectly suited to a grand interior. Lower the arms, however, and the piece becomes immediately more relaxed and informal.
The sense of being ‘cocooned’
The high sides also give it a wonderfully ‘enveloping’ feeling. Originally, in big old houses, they may well have been useful for shielding the sitter from cold draughts, but today that feeling of being cocooned is very appealing – it’s a sofa in which you can hide away from the world.
It adapts easily to different interiors
The Knole’s strong geometry allows it to work in a surprisingly wide range of settings.In a traditional country house it looks entirely at home among antiques and rich fabrics; whole in a modern interior, especially when upholstered in linen or velvet, the same structure can feel nicely understated and unobtrusive. In other words, the design itself is neutral enough to be interpreted again and again.
It was designed around real use
Many historic furniture pieces are admired more than they are used, but that doesn’t apply to the Knole. Its generous seat depth, supportive arms and balanced proportions mean it really is a comfy chair, not merely decorative. This practical success is a large part of the reason the design never disappeared from furniture making.
The Knole sofa timeline:
Period
Development
Early 1600s
Upholstered settees appear at Knole House
18th–19th century
Cabinetmakers begin reproducing the design
Early 20th century
Revival in country houses and Arts & Crafts interiors
Today
Contemporary interpretations appear in modern upholstery
The design has therefore remained in continuous use for more than four centuries, a remarkable lifespan for any piece of furniture. Few furniture designs can be traced so clearly to a particular house and moment in history.
The challenge of modern interpretations
Because the Knole is so recognisable, it has been reproduced countless times by furniture manufacturers.
Some versions emphasise the decorative aspects with elaborate tassels and ornate fabrics, perhaps some fancy carved feet. Others simplify the design, retaining the essential proportions while removing much of the ornament.
But there is a deeper question that matters far more than stylistic choices, namely: how the sofa is actually constructed.
The original Knole settees were built by craftsmen working with traditional upholstery techniques and very solid timber frames. These methods were labour-intensive but produced furniture capable of lasting generations.
Many modern reproductions, by contrast, prioritise the external silhouette while simplifying the internal structure. From the outside they may look convincing. Inside, however, they can be built very differently….
Designing from the heart of the sofa
At Schplendid we often talk about designing from the heart of the sofa.
The phrase simply means starting with the things that matter most: comfort, structure, good materials and longevity.
Historically, sofa designs like the Knole evolved directly from the craft of upholstery itself. Their shapes were not merely decorative; they reflected the practical realities of materials and joinery.
Today the process is often reversed. A silhouette is designed first – something that looks appealing in photographs or showroom displays – and the internal construction is simplified to meet a price point.
The result may look similar, but it won’t the same way over time and certainly won’t last for generations.
The Vesper: our interpretation of the Knole
Rather than reproducing the design as a historical artefact, our aim was to preserve its essential qualities, with the upright arms and generous seating, as well as a certain indefinable architectural ‘presence’, all while building the sofa using the same construction principles that made the originals successful.
Inside the Vesper you will find:
solid beech frames made with traditional joinery methods
eight-way hand-tied springs working together as a system
natural upholstery layers like coconut fibre and wool instead of foam
cushions filled predominantly with goose down for softness and resilience
Hand-tied springs are a good example of why these details matter. When the springs are tied together with jute twine they compress collectively, distributing weight evenly across the seat rather than acting as isolated components. The result is a more balanced and comfortable form of support – a method used by the best upholsterers for centuries.
A sofa design that still makes perfect sense
Four centuries after it first appeared in an English palace, the Knole remains one of the most compelling sofa designs ever created. The design survives not through nostalgia but because it was built on sound principles of proportion, practicality and comfort that remain just as relevant today as they were in the 17th century.
The Knole’s endurance – and continued expression in sofas like the Vesper – is a reminder that when furniture is designed thoughtfully, constructed properly and made from good materials, the results can endure for generations. And that, we think, is rather Schplendid.
Shop the Vesper here.
Image top: 'Portrait of a Lady' by Robert Peake the Elder (1551-1619). Public domain.