Tufted Footstool On Castors
Antique 1760s English Georgian Footstools
Leather, Hardwood
People Also Browsed
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Oak
Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Footstools
Upholstery
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Ottomans and Poufs
Leather
Antique Late 18th Century British Neoclassical Center Tables
Marble
Antique Early 1900s French Jacobean Ottomans and Poufs
Brass
Vintage 1920s French Industrial Vitrines
Brass
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Benches
Leather, Hardwood
Antique 1890s French Country Industrial and Work Tables
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Adam Style Ottomans and Poufs
Faux Leather
Vintage 1920s Dutch Art Deco Stools
Oak, Leather
Antique 1860s English High Victorian Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Pine
Vintage 1940s European Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century British William IV Ottomans and Poufs
Brass
Antique 1810s English Regency Serving Tables
Mahogany
Late 20th Century English Gothic Revival Figurative Sculptures
Fruitwood
Vintage 1930s Belgian Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Stainless Steel
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Footstools
Wool, Cotton, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Benches
Brass
20th Century English Victorian Footstools
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 1830s English William IV Benches
Hardwood, Leather
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.
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