Antique Stools – Whether beautifully upholstered to match your interior scheme in a bedroom, for a hall seat, or as a low stool in the living room, antique stools seem to be the ultimate in versatile furniture. Over the years we have been fortunate enough to find some lovely pieces, which we have delighted in bringing back to life. Some examples of these antique stools can be found in this restoration gallery. Coming in many shapes and sizes, a stool can be both formal or relaxed, and make a quirky feature in any home.

One of the earliest forms of furniture, a stool is usually a single seat without a backrest, and supported on three, four, six or even eight legs. The history of the stool dates back to the Egyptian era when footstools were needed to help royalty climb up into their high-seated thrones, and then doubled as a place for them to rest their feet whilst seated. Stools were varied and often multifunctional, and the focus was on practical use rather than decorative pleasure. It wasn’t until the early 1800’s when they became more elaborately detailed and upholstered that they became an attractive and useful addition to any room.

Antique stools differ somewhat from ottomans, which are generally larger in size with the seat often upholstered and hinged to form a lid creating a useful storage box. An ottoman traditionally has no back or arms and is often referred to as a pouffe and hassock (or tuffet, as referred to in the ‘Little Miss Muffet’ nursery rhyme which first went to print in 1805). As one might expect from the name, its roots trace back to the Ottoman Empire when customarily people sat on low wooden platforms, which were piled with pillows. It eventually took hold and became wildly fashionable in Europe in the late 18^th century, and during the 19^th century took on a circular or octagonal shape.

With a beautiful fabric and restoration, these useful pieces of furniture can really transform a room. To find out more about the restoration process involved with the antique stools and ottomans we have available on our website, please enquire.