Pair of 19th Century Chinese Rootwood Stools

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This pair of 19th-century Chinese rootwood stools embodies the quiet elegance and philosophical depth of the literati scholar tradition. Each … Read more This pair of 19th-century Chinese rootwood stools embodies the quiet elegance and philosophical depth of the literati scholar tradition. Each stool is a harmonious marriage of natural form and refined craftsmanship: the legs are fashioned from naturally contorted rootwood, their organic twists and knots left intact, while the seats are gently curved panels of richly burled wood, each with live edges that honor the irregularity of the tree from which they came. Every angle reveals the hand of nature more than the hand of man—an aesthetic aligned not only with Daoist reverence for the natural world but also with the Japanese Wabi-Sabi philosophy, which finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and the patina of time. These stools are not merely functional objects; they are contemplative sculptures, perfectly at home in a scholar’s studio, a serene corner of a modern interior, or among contemporary art. They offer a place to sit—and to pause. See less