George Smith began with a man taking a sofa apart. In 1985 a London antiques dealer, unable to find enough good Victorian upholstery to sell, dismantled one to learn how it was built, then had it made again properly. That became the Signature collection, and it is still the best-seller. The frames are hand-built in Northumberland on hand-tied springs and horsehair, and guaranteed for 25 years. Every George Smith piece here is an original, authenticated and restored, then delivered in 1 to 5 days. Originals only.
George Smith, Hand-Built English Upholstery Since 1985
George Smith was founded in 1985 by a London antiques dealer who could not source enough good antique upholstered furniture to meet demand. He took apart a sofa he admired, worked out how it had been made, and had it built again to the same standard. That first piece became the Signature collection, which remains the company's best-selling range. The name is borrowed from George Smith the Regency designer and cabinetmaker, who died in 1828 and was upholder to the Prince of Wales; the company is a nod to him, not a descendant of him.
The construction is the product. Frames are hand-built from responsibly sourced, kiln-dried hardwood, ash and utile, at the company's factory in Cramlington, Northumberland, just outside Newcastle. Heavy steel coil springs are tied into jute webbing, then hand-tied again through hessian so they cannot shift. Horsehair goes on as the primary stuffing, then cotton felt, and seat cushions are hand-stuffed with duck down and feathers. A buttoned Chesterfield takes roughly 200 handmade buttons, each one pulled through with a 40cm needle. The frames carry a 25-year guarantee.
New, a made-to-order Signature sofa starts around £6,960 and finished pieces in stock run well into five figures, with a lead time of eight to ten weeks. Every original at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and delivered in 1 to 5 days, typically at a fraction of the new price. Design doesn't depreciate, and a hardwood frame guaranteed for a quarter of a century is built to be re-covered rather than replaced. The Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial mean reduced risk. Browse the originals.
George Smith: frequently asked questions
What is George Smith?
George Smith is a British upholstery maker founded in 1985 by a London antiques dealer who wanted to build sofas to the standard of the antique ones he sold. Its furniture is hand-built at a factory in Cramlington, Northumberland, using hardwood frames, hand-tied springs and horsehair. The Signature collection is its best-known and best-selling range.
Is George Smith named after a real person?
Yes, but not its founder. The company takes its name from George Smith the Regency designer and cabinetmaker, who died in 1828 and was upholder to the Prince of Wales. The modern company was founded in 1985 and simply borrowed the name as a nod to him. It is not a continuation of his nineteenth-century business, whatever some listings claim.
How is a George Smith sofa made?
Frames are hand-built from kiln-dried hardwood, ash and utile. Heavy steel coil springs are tied into jute webbing and hand-tied again through hessian. Horsehair is the primary stuffing, followed by cotton felt, with seat cushions hand-filled with duck down and feathers. A buttoned Chesterfield carries around 200 handmade buttons. Frames are guaranteed for 25 years.
Where can I buy pre-owned George Smith sofas in the UK?
REHAUS sells authenticated, original George Smith in the UK. Every piece is checked against the real thing, restored where needed, and delivered nationwide in 1 to 5 days, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. You skip the eight-to-ten-week made-to-order wait, and stock is one of one.
How do I know a George Smith piece is genuine?
Look underneath. Genuine pieces carry a George Smith badge, a label with a serial number, and a five or six digit product number on the base; older pieces have been recorded with a metal tag reading George Smith, handmade by craftsmen, Newcastle, England. Not every piece survives with all of them, so the model and construction matter too. REHAUS checks these before listing.
Is pre-owned George Smith worth buying?
Yes. These are hardwood-framed pieces guaranteed for 25 years and filled with horsehair and down, built to be re-covered rather than replaced, so a well-kept sofa has decades left in it. George Smith will also re-cover and re-upholster its own furniture, though only its own. Every piece at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and backed by the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial.
How is George Smith delivered, and can I return it?
Each piece is delivered in 1 to 5 days, with white-glove delivery complimentary on qualifying orders. Every order comes with a 30-day home trial, so you can live with it before committing. If it is not right, returns are straightforward. Because each piece is one of one, it is only truly yours once it has shipped.
Why buy George Smith from REHAUS?
REHAUS sells originals only. Every George Smith piece is authenticated, restored to a high standard, and delivered fast across the UK, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial. New, a Signature sofa starts around £6,960 and takes eight to ten weeks. Here it is checked, restored and ready now.
