Late 19th Century Rustic Alpine Stool from Valle Daosta, Italy, 1890s

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This rustic stool originates from the Valle d’Aosta, Italy, near the French border, and dates to the late 19th century. … Read more This rustic stool originates from the Valle d’Aosta, Italy, near the French border, and dates to the late 19th century. A powerful example of Alpine rural craftsmanship, it stands at the intersection of sculpture and utility, embodying a raw, almost brutalist presence shaped entirely by use, necessity, and time. Hand-carved from solid wood using traditional vernacular techniques, the stool features a thick, irregular seat supported by three organically shaped legs, joined by naturally curved stretchers. The construction is entirely empirical, guided by instinct and material rather than design conventions, resulting in a form that feels both primitive and profoundly modern. The seat bears deep cuts, scars, and abrasions, suggesting it was repeatedly used as a working surface over decades — likely as a chopping block for food preparation or for cutting kindling to start fires. These marks are not defects but historical records, testifying to daily life in a rural Alpine environment. The surface is dense, darkened, and richly layered with patina, radiating warmth and authenticity. The wood has developed a remarkable surface over time: oxidized tones, softened edges, shrinkage cracks, and tool marks remain fully visible. No restoration has been carried out. The stool is preserved in entirely original condition, retaining its honest wear, structural integrity, and deeply evocative presence. Sculptural and brutal in spirit, yet intimate and human, this piece works equally well as a low stool, side table, or purely decorative object. It brings a sense of grounded history to contemporary interiors, wabi-sabi spaces, or collections focused on primitive, folk, or brutalist aesthetics. See less