Spanish Patchwork Brown Leather Ottoman or Footstool, Parrot Motif
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching patchwork leather pouf with parrot motif on the top, France, 1960s. This hand tooled leather pouf in cognac color marks the difference with its parrot tropical motif on...
Leather
Pair of English Wooden Metamorphic Footstools with Leather Tops, circa 1860
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English wooden metamorphic footstools from the mid-19th century, with caramel leather tops. Born in England during the third quarter of the 19th century, each of this amazi...
Brass
Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chair and Footstool by Axel Larsson, Sweden, 1950s
By Axel Larsson, Bodafors
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Amazing lounge chair by Axel Larsson, made from teak with original wreathed blue leather. Neck cushion. Bold lines create a very cool silhouette.
Leather, Teak
Antique and vintage footstools might add a dose of fun to your living room, but they’re also hard workers.
Even as they’ve morphed into objects with plenty of functions over time, the footstool has a royal past. In Ancient Egypt, a footstool was used to climb onto an elevated chair or placed under someone’s feet as he or she was seated in a temple or private residence. Footstools were also in use during the Ottoman Empire. In fact, the ottoman, an upholstered seat or small bench that initially had no back or arms, was the main seating furniture in a home. Ottomans were a way to merge floor seating with cushions and mats.
Poufs, which originated in France, are also thought of as convenient seating furniture as well as occasionally serving as a side table, if needed. (Although, a pouf is typically not as firm as an ottoman.)
Over the years, footstools have taken on varying purposes. They have been used as small portable chairs, for example.
During the 18th century, a footstool might have been long with a low profile, which rendered it perfect for fireside seating. Victorian footstools were small but not unassuming, as furniture makers of the era would upholster the pieces so that they paired with the nearby sofa or wingback chairs. Footstools have even become a storage solution at home, with designers outfitting them with compartments. Today, a footstool might be used to organize quilts and blankets or other textiles, especially if you’re trying to keep things uncluttered in a small apartment.
Footstools are now available in all sorts of provocative colors, upholstery and more. No one is going to put a velvet footstool out on the curb, right? When shopping for your own footstool, try to find one that meets the height of your sofa or other seating (or is a tad lower). It should also be sturdy but not a heavy, clunky piece that’s a chore to move around.
The footstool is both decorative and functional. Not unlike a good throw pillow, interior designers have found numerous uses for this versatile, vibrant furnishing. Find yours in the growing collection of antique and vintage footstools today on 1stDibs.
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