An elegant walnut stool or bench in the Queen Anne style, raised on finely carved cabriole legs with carved shells to the knees and with seat covered blue silk damask. England, circa 1920's.

Why we like it

What sold this early 20th-century Queen Anne-style stool to us was its beautifully aged walnut, which has developed that warm, honeyed colour and patina that only comes with age. The shell carvings at the knees are particularly finely executed, lending the stool an elegance that distinguishes it from the many similar pieces.

We chose a blue silk damask for the upholstery as we feel it is one of the best choices for this particular stool. The large acanthus leaf pattern creates a sense of movement across the surface, almost dancing as the light changes. The blue itself is a lovely, clear shade — evocative of a blue ocean, while the silvery highlights give the fabric a subtle depth. To complete the appearance, the studs, like a string of pearls, have been spaced with precision along the edge, adding an elegant, understated finish.

The cabriole legs are perfectly proportioned — neither too heavy nor too delicate—giving the stool a balanced presence. It is equally suited for a prominent position in the drawing room or beside a dressing table.

It's that sense of an overall balance, that indefinable quality of rightness – everything in harmony, everything as it should be, and that sensitive understanding of proportion and detail – that gives the stool an understated beauty that we find so compelling.

Dimensions

Height: 16.5 in / 42 cm
Width: 19.6 in / 50 cm
Depth: 15 in / 38 cm

Condition

Good original antique condition, wonderful colour and patination, newly re-covered in blue silk damask.