Christopher Howe trained as a sculptor, and has been collecting rare furniture and objects for decades (his clients have included Lucien Freud, who favored his "esoterically shabby chairs to use in his portraits").
Howe sells his antiques—ranging from 18th-century English country house furniture to 19th-century Arts and Crafts items to 20th-century industrial pieces—as well as his own line of custom furniture and lighting from his shop on Pimlico Road in London. We especially like his upholstered pieces, which are created in the traditional fashion: with hand-stitched horsehair and down filling. Go to Howe to see the range.
Above: Howe is located at 93 Pimlico Road in London.
Above: An original George III Gainsborough Armchair, in the process of being lovingly reupholstered.
Above: The Ladder Back Chair is made of turned ash and oak splats with green rush seating.
Above: The interior of Howe (L). A hand-stitching detail on the Den Sofa (R), upholstered with individual springs, hand-stitched horsehair, and down filling.
Above: The Daybed with a custom mattress cushion in a traditional ticking fabric.
Above: A detail of the hand-stitched upholstery on the Greyhound Stool.
Above: The Queen Anne Wing Chair is completely handmade, with a beech frame and carved cabriole legs.
Above: A deep-buttoned, individually tied-in sprung seat is a feature of the Flag Chair.
Above: The Flag Chair is also available in a deconstructed version, which reveals the finely crafted construction.
N.B.: This post is an update, the original story ran on January 3, 2011.