Christopher Howe, the proprietor of Howe, trained as a sculptor and has been collecting rare furniture and objects for decades (his clients have included Lucien Freud, who favors his "esoterically shabby chairs to use in his portraits"). Howe sells his antiques—pieces range from 18th-century English country house furniture to Arts and Crafts items of the late 19th century to industrial pieces from the 20th century—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 traditionally upholstered with hand-stitched horsehair and down filling; go to Howe to see the range.
Above: The Beagle Chair, shown in blackberry-stain vintage linen.
Above: A hand-stitching detail on the Den Sofa, upholstered with individual springs, hand-stitched horsehair, and down filling.
Above: Greyhound Stool with custom mattress ticking cushion.
Above: A detail of the hand-stitched upholstery on the Greyhound Stool.
Above: Deep-buttoned, individually tied-in sprung seat Flag Chair.
Above: The Flag Chair is available in a deconstructed version, which reveals the finely crafted construction.