Claw Foot Footstool
Antique 1840s French Aubusson Footstools
Fabric, Tapestry, Wool, Wood, Nutwood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary English Chippendale Footstools
Wood
Vintage 1940s English Victorian Footstools
Upholstery, Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century European Footstools
Brass
Vintage 1960s Footstools
Wood
Early 20th Century Victorian Footstools
Oak
Early 20th Century Victorian Footstools
Oak
People Also Browsed
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Footstools
Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Empire Footstools
Mahogany
20th Century English Art Deco Wingback Chairs
Velvet, Beech
Early 20th Century American Victorian Footstools
Tapestry, Velvet, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary English Georgian Pier Mirrors and Console ...
Paint, Gesso, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George II Dry Bars
Wood
Antique 19th Century British George II Stools
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 1880s English High Victorian Stools
Upholstery
Mid-20th Century French Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Lanterns
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Stools
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Vintage 1920s Chippendale Stools
Mahogany
Finding the Right Footstools for You
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.
- When were claw foot tables made?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Claw foot tables were first made in the 18th century. Typically, artisans carved the feet out of solid wood. Many Chippendale-style furniture designs show off this feature. Later works sometimes featured metal claws holding glass balls. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of antique claw foot tables.
Read More
20 Inviting Dining Rooms Perfectly Arranged for Entertaining
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Nobody Puts This Sunny Sofa in a Corner
With its plush cushions, cane details and dazzlingly colorful back, it’s inviting from every angle.
The 21 Most Popular Mid-Century Modern Chairs
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
Fred Rigby’s Modular Seating Can Be Configured in So Many Handy Ways
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
This Chubby-Chic Quilted Stool Stands on Its Own Two Feet
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Rock Your Cares Away on This Sunny Hand-Crocheted Swing
The boho-chic Enchanted Forest Swing, handmade by marginalized women from Turkey and Syria, is uplifting in every way.
Learn Why Designer Maarten Baas Set This Charles Rennie Mackintosh Chair on Fire
What happens when you do something to a piece of furniture that you shouldn’t? It becomes an entirely new object.