Early 19th Century Sycamore and Ash Vernacular Stool

A characterful English vernacular stool dating to the early 19th century, constructed with a thick sycamore seat and ash legs, and retaining evidence of an interesting period of working repair.

The single-piece sycamore chamfered top has developed a particularly pleasing buttery cream colour through generations of use. The surface is extensively marked with old cuts, scratches and wear, with considerable softening to the edges. The seat measures approximately 3 cm thick.

The legs are secured directly into the seat with their tenons passing completely through it and visible from above, a straightforward and robust method of construction frequently encountered in vernacular seating.

Two of the simple ash legs appear to be original to the stool. The remaining two, positioned diagonally opposite one another, are old ring-turned ash replacements, probably dating from around the middle of the 19th century. Rather than attempting to reproduce the original plain legs, whoever repaired the stool appears simply to have used a pair of available turned legs.

The result is an unusually appealing example of the practical approach to repairing everyday country furniture. Stools of this type were working objects and were repaired when necessary rather than discarded. Here the contrasting legs have themselves acquired considerable age and wear and have long since become part of the history and appearance of the stool.

Traces of old red paint survive to the underside of the seat, while the upper surface retains the extensive wear and patination accumulated through use.

A pleasing piece of English vernacular furniture in which the later working repairs have become as much a part of its character as the original construction.

Measuring: 40 cm wide x 24.5 cm deep x 33.5 cm high.

English, c. 1800, with two later replacement legs, probably circa 1850.

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