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Antique and Vintage Benches and Stools
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Stools, generally defined as seats without backs, are among the earliest types of wooden furniture ever made; ancient Egyptians, for example, are known to have used stools. While it's true that it didn't take ancient people long to follow up the...
Stools, generally defined as seats without backs, are among the earliest types of wooden furniture ever made; ancient Egyptians, for example, are known to have used stools. While it's true that it didn't take ancient people long to follow up the stool with a chair, having a seat with a back or arms was largely considered an indulgence reserved for emperors and aristocrats up through the 17th century, while the earliest known footstools were design for Egyptian royals to climb into tall chairs.
Folding stools, portable seats that have a cushion, planks, or a piece of fabric stretched between two connected, collapsible wooden frames, have been around since at least 15th-13th century B.C. Variations of folding stools are known as "curule" seats (important in the Roman Empire), "faldstools" (used by traveling Catholic bishops), and "campstools" (used by militaries).
In medieval Europe, how you sat determined your status, so commoners perched on stools and benches, while lords relaxed on luxurious thrones. Most people used either the "Gothic" or "board-ended stool"—which is a short bench propped up with a board on either side—or a stool with simple turned legs—a design that probably came to Europe by way of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453). Three-legged stools were often employed by farmers when milking their cows.
Turned stools paved the way for turned chairs and Windsor chairs. A plank seat would be set with three legs using round mortise-and-tenon joints. (Three-legged stools have better balance on uneven floors than four-legged stools.) Later in the 17th century, craftsmen developed the joined stool, which could be larger without consuming too much timber.
During the 17th century, footstools, used for propping up feet instead of sitting upon, became popular, largely because of the spread of gout, which required elevating the sore foot. In the 18th century, short, long stools called "fender stools" would be put in front of a home's fireplace so that everyone in the family could keep their feet off the cold ground and in front of the warm fire. Shakers were known for their lovely, simple stools.
The smallest footstools, known as "crickets," were under 12 inches tall and used as seats for children and foot rests for adults. Stools that were 12-to-20 inches tall were called "misses stools" or "table stools" and used for general seating. Stools taller than 20 inches were meant for writing at tall desks.
Some footstools were designed to help the circulation of people whose legs were too short for the chairs they sat on, while others were meant for kick-your-feet-up style relaxation. Particularly indulgent footstools were short or adjustable four-legged stools with a cushioned or padded top upholstered with fabric or leather. These are sometimes called "ottomans." Ottomans can also be rather large cushioned backless seats and have been known as "tuffets" (as in "Little Miss Muffet"), "hassocks" (small box-like stools used to store things) and "poufs" or "pouffes." In England, bench-type ottomans often double as chests with storage under the cushions.
The "backstool" is a transitional piece between the development of the stool and the chair. The rear leg of three-legged would be extended above the seat and outfitted with a pad. Tall stools and backstools were employed as way to seat a bunch of people at a bar or counter. For this reason, barstools are more defined by their height than whether they have a back, as many so-called barstools do have regular chair backs. Barstools may or may not swivel, and are often affixed to the ground.
Barstools surged in popularity in the 1950s and '60s, particularly for Modern open-floor plan homes. That's when Americans saw a wide variety of barstools in size, shape, materials, and colors. Mid-Century, Eames, and Scandinavian designs became very sparse, with thin legs and simple cushions.
Throughout history, long seating known as benches have been used indoors and outdoors, and have been made with and without arms or backs. Some, like wood-slatted Victorian benches with elaborate cast-iron frames, are designed for the enjoyment of public parks, gardens, or other scenic spots, while others simply allow pedestrians or public transit riders to rest. The simplest benches are designed as picnic-table seating. Long benches used in churches are called "pews," while short, sometimes adjustable benches are used for piano-playing and called "piano benches." Small, padded, backless benches are used for weight training, while box-like furniture pieces used for both seating and storage are also known as benches. Benches have been made of every material imaginable, from wood and concrete to metal, fiberglass, and plastic.
Gustav Stickley, a leader in the Arts and Crafts furniture movement around the turn of the 20th century, rejected the overstuffed, fancy armchairs Victorians had used in their parlors. He proposed a return to simple wooden benches in the home. Stickley's Mission Style oak benches and the knockoffs he inspired were particularly beautiful, handcrafted works of art.
Continue readingStools, generally defined as seats without backs, are among the earliest types of wooden furniture ever made; ancient Egyptians, for example, are known to have used stools. While it's true that it didn't take ancient people long to follow up the stool with a chair, having a seat with a back or arms was largely considered an indulgence reserved for emperors and aristocrats up through the 17th century, while the earliest known footstools were design for Egyptian royals to climb into tall chairs.
Folding stools, portable seats that have a cushion, planks, or a piece of fabric stretched between two connected, collapsible wooden frames, have been around since at least 15th-13th century B.C. Variations of folding stools are known as "curule" seats (important in the Roman Empire), "faldstools" (used by traveling Catholic bishops), and "campstools" (used by militaries).
In medieval Europe, how you sat determined your status, so commoners perched on stools and benches, while lords relaxed on luxurious thrones. Most people used either the "Gothic" or "board-ended stool"—which is a short bench propped up with a board on either side—or a stool with simple turned legs—a design that probably came to Europe by way of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453). Three-legged stools were often employed by farmers when milking their cows.
Turned stools paved the way for turned chairs and Windsor chairs. A plank seat would be set with three legs using round mortise-and-tenon joints. (Three-legged stools have better balance on uneven floors than four-legged stools.) Later in the 17th century, craftsmen developed the joined stool, which could be larger without consuming too much timber.
During the 17th century, footstools, used for propping up feet instead of sitting upon, became popular, largely because of the spread of gout, which required elevating the sore foot. In the 18th century, short, long stools called "fender stools" would be put in front of a home's fireplace so that...
Stools, generally defined as seats without backs, are among the earliest types of wooden furniture ever made; ancient Egyptians, for example, are known to have used stools. While it's true that it didn't take ancient people long to follow up the stool with a chair, having a seat with a back or arms was largely considered an indulgence reserved for emperors and aristocrats up through the 17th century, while the earliest known footstools were design for Egyptian royals to climb into tall chairs.
Folding stools, portable seats that have a cushion, planks, or a piece of fabric stretched between two connected, collapsible wooden frames, have been around since at least 15th-13th century B.C. Variations of folding stools are known as "curule" seats (important in the Roman Empire), "faldstools" (used by traveling Catholic bishops), and "campstools" (used by militaries).
In medieval Europe, how you sat determined your status, so commoners perched on stools and benches, while lords relaxed on luxurious thrones. Most people used either the "Gothic" or "board-ended stool"—which is a short bench propped up with a board on either side—or a stool with simple turned legs—a design that probably came to Europe by way of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453). Three-legged stools were often employed by farmers when milking their cows.
Turned stools paved the way for turned chairs and Windsor chairs. A plank seat would be set with three legs using round mortise-and-tenon joints. (Three-legged stools have better balance on uneven floors than four-legged stools.) Later in the 17th century, craftsmen developed the joined stool, which could be larger without consuming too much timber.
During the 17th century, footstools, used for propping up feet instead of sitting upon, became popular, largely because of the spread of gout, which required elevating the sore foot. In the 18th century, short, long stools called "fender stools" would be put in front of a home's fireplace so that everyone in the family could keep their feet off the cold ground and in front of the warm fire. Shakers were known for their lovely, simple stools.
The smallest footstools, known as "crickets," were under 12 inches tall and used as seats for children and foot rests for adults. Stools that were 12-to-20 inches tall were called "misses stools" or "table stools" and used for general seating. Stools taller than 20 inches were meant for writing at tall desks.
Some footstools were designed to help the circulation of people whose legs were too short for the chairs they sat on, while others were meant for kick-your-feet-up style relaxation. Particularly indulgent footstools were short or adjustable four-legged stools with a cushioned or padded top upholstered with fabric or leather. These are sometimes called "ottomans." Ottomans can also be rather large cushioned backless seats and have been known as "tuffets" (as in "Little Miss Muffet"), "hassocks" (small box-like stools used to store things) and "poufs" or "pouffes." In England, bench-type ottomans often double as chests with storage under the cushions.
The "backstool" is a transitional piece between the development of the stool and the chair. The rear leg of three-legged would be extended above the seat and outfitted with a pad. Tall stools and backstools were employed as way to seat a bunch of people at a bar or counter. For this reason, barstools are more defined by their height than whether they have a back, as many so-called barstools do have regular chair backs. Barstools may or may not swivel, and are often affixed to the ground.
Barstools surged in popularity in the 1950s and '60s, particularly for Modern open-floor plan homes. That's when Americans saw a wide variety of barstools in size, shape, materials, and colors. Mid-Century, Eames, and Scandinavian designs became very sparse, with thin legs and simple cushions.
Throughout history, long seating known as benches have been used indoors and outdoors, and have been made with and without arms or backs. Some, like wood-slatted Victorian benches with elaborate cast-iron frames, are designed for the enjoyment of public parks, gardens, or other scenic spots, while others simply allow pedestrians or public transit riders to rest. The simplest benches are designed as picnic-table seating. Long benches used in churches are called "pews," while short, sometimes adjustable benches are used for piano-playing and called "piano benches." Small, padded, backless benches are used for weight training, while box-like furniture pieces used for both seating and storage are also known as benches. Benches have been made of every material imaginable, from wood and concrete to metal, fiberglass, and plastic.
Gustav Stickley, a leader in the Arts and Crafts furniture movement around the turn of the 20th century, rejected the overstuffed, fancy armchairs Victorians had used in their parlors. He proposed a return to simple wooden benches in the home. Stickley's Mission Style oak benches and the knockoffs he inspired were particularly beautiful, handcrafted works of art.
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