Antique Japanese Wooden Stool / Early 20th Century / Wabi-Sabi Step Stool

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Description

We have received a very cute antique wooden stool. It is thought to have been made in Japan in the … Read more We have received a very cute antique wooden stool. It is thought to have been made in Japan in the early 20th century, in the first half of the 1900s. The material is cedar.

It was most likely used originally as a step stool. A step stool is a small everyday tool that people used to reach things placed high up, or to climb up and down steps such as the raised threshold at a house entrance. It was used all around the home, in the kitchen, in storerooms, and for tending a household shrine. For that reason, almost all of them were made simply, with straight lines and sturdy construction, from whatever boards were at hand.

And almost all such step stools have a base with straight, trapezoidal sides beneath a flat horizontal top. It would be fair to say that ninety-nine out of a hundred are like this. This stool is different. The sides of its base form a soft, mountain-shaped curve. Thanks to this curve, the whole piece has a plump, charming look with a reassuring sense of stability. Among so many angular tools, this roundness soothes the mind every time you see it.

The plain cedar grain and the dark brown color that has developed over the years also have the taste that only an antique can offer. It is not showy, but the history of long use has become its character. One feels the gentle warmth of the wood.

It is also perfectly stable when you sit on it. Of course it can be used as a stool to sit on, and it would also be nice by an entrance, for putting on and taking off shoes. It is also just the right size to serve as a small side table or display stand for a vase or a small object. It blends in naturally with simple interiors and with wabi-sabi spaces alike.

This is the first time I have come across a stool of this design. I therefore do not know whether I will be able to find another like it in the future. If it has caught your eye, please do consider it. It is a rare find that is not easy to come by, and a very highly recommended item. We offer it with confidence.

Size: W37.8cm × D31cm × H38.4cm
Weight: 3.6kg
Item No.: CH070

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We are a specialized team dealing in antiques and vintage items, comprised of stores based on three distinct brands. While focusing on Japanese items, we also offer a carefully curated selection of attractive goods from around the world—each evoking the culture and history of its country of origin.
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