Mid 19th Century Pair of Antique Chinese Foot Stools

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The pair of low square foot stools retain their original finish and the old patina is a good reflection of … Read more The pair of low square foot stools retain their original finish and the old patina is a good reflection of antique Chinese furniture,. The pair came from Shanxi Province and shows good age in the construction. The tops have wide mitered frames with a small square panel in the middle. The legs are connected to the top and apron by a series of joinery. The waisted apron recessed and the legs are joined together in "bridge" stretches. The stools have an endearing appearance.

This is my personal observation: the need for foot stools could very well related to the height of women and the conditions of the floor. Until the 20th century women in China were considered short and the height of chairs were high - thus the need for foot stools. Another reason might be the cold or damp floors and footwears were made of cloth, especially the dainty five inches or less lotus shoes worn by women with bound feet. See less