Daniel Craig’s Bond has a sparsely furnished London flat in Spectre, so the few pieces in it were chosen with care. One is a rounded, upright leather armchair: the Amsterdam leather chair, made by Leather Chairs of Bath. In our view it is one of the most liveable objects in Bond’s world, and you can own it without anyone suspecting a reference.
In the film
The chair appears in Bond’s London apartment in Spectre. According to Leather Chairs of Bath, a set decorator from Pinewood Studios approached the company, the Amsterdam was chosen for its size and shape, and the colour was settled after an exchange of samples.
One caution. The maker describes the standard Amsterdam as the basic model behind its Spectre connection, and sells a buttoned-back version it has, for the time being, renamed the Bond chair. If an exact match matters to you, ask the maker which it recommends.
The details of the Amsterdam leather chair
A curved, upright shape. The back is curved and the seat carries a thick cushion. It sits you up rather than letting you slump, which is why the maker calls it a good reading chair. The maker also notes that the design has been used extensively at Hotel du Vin and at the Bath Literary Festival.
Hand-dyed full-grain leather. The maker is candid that its hide shows the marks of natural leather: scars and stretch. Treat those as the point. A chair like this should look better at ten years than at ten days.
Proportions. It measures 850mm wide, 840mm high and 800mm deep, with a seat height of 500mm. That is generous for one person, but it is not a statement piece that swallows a room.
Options. The maker can build a smaller version, approximately 5cm less in height, depth and width, with brass castors. A matching footstool, buttoned or unbuttoned, can be made to go with it.
Owning it now
This is a chair for a corner with a window and a good lamp, not for the middle of the room. It suits a study, a bedroom or a sitting room that already has a sofa. One chair on its own does more work than a pair. Give it somewhere to be used every day.
Which version? We would start with the plain back. It is the quieter of the two and the model the maker names as the basis for the film chair. Add the footstool later if the room wants it, and choose the smaller size if space is tight.
Colour. This is the decision that matters most. Ask the maker what is available and look at a sample in your own light, at different times of day.
Care. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, which dry leather and fade dye. Wipe it with a dry cloth and condition it occasionally.
Specifications
| Maker | Leather Chairs of Bath |
|---|---|
| Model | The Amsterdam Chair in Leather |
| Dimensions | 850mm wide, 840mm high, 800mm deep |
| Seat height | 500mm |
| Upholstery | Hand-dyed full-grain leather |
| Variants | Buttoned back; smaller size (about 5cm less) with brass castors; matching footstool |
| Price | See the maker’s page for the current price |
Full details are on Leather Chairs of Bath’s own page for the Amsterdam chair.
Questions
Is this the chair in Bond’s flat in Spectre?
Yes, the Amsterdam is the chair seen in Bond’s London apartment. The maker says it is the basic model behind its Spectre chair and also sells a buttoned-back version renamed the Bond chair.
How big is the Amsterdam leather chair?
It is 850mm wide, 840mm high and 800mm deep, with a 500mm seat height. A version about 5cm smaller in each dimension can also be made.
Can you buy a matching footstool?
Yes. The maker says a footstool, buttoned or unbuttoned, can be made to match the chair.
Where can you buy it?
Directly from Leather Chairs of Bath, which sells the Amsterdam through its own site and showroom. Enquire there to confirm colour, version and current price.
More furnishings from Bond’s world are in Home & Interiors, and the rest of the series is on our films page.
