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Footstools

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Footstools For Sale
Number in Set: Single Piece
Pirkka Stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pirkka Stool by Ilmari Tapiovaara for Laukaan Puu, c.1950s, Finland. This pine stool features a dark stained rectangular seat and four splayed legs. Dimensions
 17" width x 12.25" d...
Category

1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Pine

Mid 20th Century, Danish Footstool by Hugo Frandsen
Located in Bristol, GB
A sweet footstool, designed and manufactured in Denmark in the 1960's by Hugo Frandsen. Newly upholstered in a light charcoal linen.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Linen

Large footstool "PIG" by Dimitri Omersa. 1960s. Abercrombie & Fitch
Located in Köln, NW
Large footstool "PIG" by Dimitri Omersa. 1960s. Abercrombie & Fitch. The pig was one of Omersa´s first models The large pig is filled with wood wool and covered in leather. The leat...
Category

1960s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather

Mid-century German Mountain Goat Footstool c.1960
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Vintage Mountain Goat footstool made with Lambswool or Mohair wool, leather ears, natural horns and black metal eyes, circa 1960s. The face is co...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Leather, Wool, Mohair, Wood

1940's Mid Century Modern Billy Haines Attribution Foot Stool Ottoman
Located in Southampton, NJ
A rare find attributed to Billy Haines with refinished walnut tapered & splayed legs; newly upholstered ready for use. Provenance: From an estate in Southampton, NY fully decorated w...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Footstools

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Mid century Zebra Hide & Chrome Ottoman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage, C.1970s large Zebra hide Ottoman on a straight line square Chrome base.. There a a few repairs that are hand stitched, to the hide, very well done.. The Chrome base is in ve...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Zebra Hide

Mid 20th Century, Danish Round Tripod Footstool
Located in Bristol, GB
A charming, round footstool with tapering teak legs and a padded cushion which has been newly upholstered in black faux leather.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Faux Leather, Teak

Mid-Century 'Il Kubile' Cubic Stool, by Pellegrini for MIM Roma, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning cube-shaped pouf stool "Il Kubile". This fantastic piece was designed by Luigi Pellegrin for MIM (Mobili Italiani Moderni), Ico Parisi's historic company, in Italy during th...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Resin, Velvet

Vintage Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch Rhino or Rhinoceros Leather Footstool
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage leather footstool. Designed by Daniel Omersa for Abercrombie & Fitch in the 1960's. In the form of a standing rhinoceros with its signature folded eyes, floppy ears,...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Leather

Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Lips, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Category

2010s Israeli Footstools

Materials

Steel

Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Kurama, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Category

2010s Israeli Footstools

Materials

Wool, Silk

19th Century Oriental Carved Wood Stool
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderfully stylish 19th century Oriental style stool, with pierced fretwork decoration to the frieze, stuff over upholstered seat, raised on classical carved cabriole legs with my...
Category

19th Century French Antique Footstools

Materials

Mahogany

Round Continental Stool With Scalamandré Cheetah
Located in Tampa, FL
A lovely 19th century round carved wooden foot stool thats upholstered in very old Scalamandré cheetah silk velvet fabric. The legs are a heavy porc...
Category

1980s French Vintage Footstools

Materials

Textile, Wood

COLLECTABLE VERY LARGE ViNTAGE GEORGE SMITH CHELSEA FLORAL FOOTSTOOL OTTOMAN
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite and highly collectable Vintage George Smith floral uphols...
Category

20th Century English Country Footstools

Materials

Upholstery

A Guillerme et Chambron oak and fabric stool
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An unusual stool in oak and fabric
Category

1980s French Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Ottoman/Footstool in Black & White Woven Jacquard
Located in Munster, IN
A bold woven pattern in a neutral color-scheme makes this a fantastic and versatile textile for this small ottoman. Paired with natural wooden legs and asymmetrically-placed brass ta...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Modern Footstools

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Mid Century Bauhaus Chrome teak fabric Dressing table stool footrest , 1960s
Located in Leamington Spa, GB
Mid Century Vintage footrest ottoman is made in typical mid-century style. The stool was made most probably in the 1960/70s. Designed in the manner of Sven Ivar Dysthe for Dokka Mo...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Bauhaus Footstools

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco Stool, Material Iron and Brown Leather Country France, 1930
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Stools Art Deco. Material: iron and leather You want to live in the golden years, this is the stool that your project needs. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nou...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Footstools

Materials

Iron

Nino Pouf with Brushed Brass Plinth and Buttons
Located in Frazão, Porto
In our Nino stool we can appreciate the beautiful details and finishes like the buttons and the plinth in brushed brass. Upholstered with grey Siège 886 (structure) and camel safety...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Footstools

Materials

Brass

Fun House, Iron Footstool, Natural Iron
Located in Fermo, FM
Iron cube. It can serve as seating, a small bedside table or coffee table. It can be combined with other cubes, or the parallelepipedon, in the Fun House series. The cubes connect to...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Footstools

Materials

Iron

Mid Century Wool Hand Tufting Vintage Stool, Denmark, 1960
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of the 1960s style. The stool is after full ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Fabric, Wool, Beech

Vintage Cushioned Upholstered Stool With Storage and Wooden Frame.
Located in Seattle, WA
This Stool has beautiful carved detailing and Aging to the wood. The Upholstery has a stunning floral pattern. The seat lifts up to reveal a storage compartment. Vintage Condition Co...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Textile, Wood

Contemporary Footstool 'Grasso' by Stephen Burks, 80 cm
Located in Paris, FR
'Grasso' by Stephen Burks x Bd Barcelona Footstool: Ø36 x 80 cm Upholstery ref: Florida Leather Black Frame: Blue An stool that pursues a visual “ultra-comfort”, and invites you t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Organic Modern Footstools

Materials

Metal

Antique Repurposed Wagon Wheel Hub Decorative Wooden Art Piece.
Located in Seattle, WA
Rustic Art piece with tan seat, could be used as a small stool or footrest. Rad, blue and black colored Accents. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured. Dimensions. 9 Dia...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Wood

Funky Vintage Brass Suzani Seat, Stool
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional vintage swivel stool made of solid brass , upholster with beautiful hand embroidery vintage Suzani textile , silk embroidered flowers and vine with wine and turquoise c...
Category

20th Century American Footstools

Materials

Brass

1960's, Refinished Danish Footstool with Leather Upholtery
Located in Knebel, DK
1960's Refinished Danish footstool with leather upholstery. Danish footstool in slimlined minimalistic yet advanced Scandinavian modern design with it's combination of straight simp...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather, Beech

18th Century French Louis XV Period Mahogany Hand Carved Foot Stool or Dog Stool
Located in Sofia, BG
18th Century French Louis XV period mahogany hand carved foot stool or dog stool in very good authentic condition still wearing original velvet upholstery in dark red. France, circa ...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Footstools

Materials

Velvet, Mahogany

SMALL SiZED LIBERTY'S LONDON OMERSA BROWN LEATHER HIPPOPOTAMUS FOOTSTOOL
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely sublime very rare and original, small sized 1930’s Liberty’s London Omersa brown leather han...
Category

1930s European Art Deco Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather

Safari rosewood and leather Erik Worts Ottoman for Niels Eilersen, Denmark, 1960
Located in Braga, Braga
Safari Ottoman designed by Erik Worts for Niels Eilersen, Denmark, 1960. Made of solid rosewood and leather. Very nice patinated leather seat but still in good vintage condition. S...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

African Senufo Round Stool
Located in Centreville, VA
These Senufo stools are hand carved from hardwood by the Senufo Tribe in the Ivory Coast. Senufo stools are known for their stocky tapered legs and concave tops and are traditional...
Category

Late 20th Century African Footstools

Materials

Wood

Vintage Wesley Hall Traditional Burnt Orange Leather & Mahogany Ottoman Nailhead
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th Century leather upholstered ottoman or footstool by Wesley Hall. Features a rectangular frame with burnt orange leather, brass nailhead trim and turned mahogany feet. Wes...
Category

Late 20th Century Footstools

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Madsen & Schubell Pragh Stool, Denmark, 1950s
Located in London, GB
A wonderful, original Pragh footstool by Ib Madsen & Acton Schubell, Denmark 1950s. Newly upholstered in a premium bespoke pure Alpaca wool fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Footstools

Materials

Alpaca, Beech

TETRAD BROWN LEATHER LARGE FOOTSTOOL LARGE ENoUGH FOR TWO PEOPLE TO SHARE
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Tetrad heritage brown leather footstool A good looking and comfortable stool, it has a nice her...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Leather

Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen Stool for Willy Beck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cane stool by Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen for Willy Beck, c.1950s, Denmark. The stool features a woven cane seat and tapered teak dowel legs. Dimensions
 22" width x 16" dept...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Teak, Cane

Hans-Peter Krafft "Sheep Footstool" for Meier, Germany, 1960s
Located in Brussel, BE
An Original foot stool in a shape and size of a sheep. Designed by Hans-Peter Krafft for Maier, Germany circa 1960s. Sheep is in wood.
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Wood

Rattan footstool for Rohé Noordwolde, The Netherlands 1960's
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This rattan footstool was made bij Rohé Noordwolde in the 1960's. A great design that fits nicely in a bohemian interior for example. It has been expertly checked and some smaller re...
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Rattan

20th century Naturalistic stool/side table
Located in Malton, GB
This is a great looking French side table / stool. Naturalistic with branch legs and a great overall design. Flat top making it ideal for use as a side table by a chair or by a bath ...
Category

20th Century Footstools

Materials

Hardwood

19th Century American Aesthetic Period Grain Painted Stool with Upholstered Seat
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
American Aesthetic Movement footstool on four tapered legs below a shaped and pierced apron, the legs connected with ball and ring turned x-stretcher centering a large red sphere wit...
Category

Late 19th Century American Aesthetic Movement Antique Footstools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Vintage Leather Rhino Footstool by Abercrombie & Fitch, 1950s
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A leather rhino ottoman/footstool by Abercombie & Fitch, circa 1950s. Thick brown leather with beautiful patina and character. Missing tail!.
Category

1950s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather

Art Deco Tabouret by UP Zavody, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
Designed by Jindrich Halabala for UP Zavody. Made in Czechoslovakia Made of wood, fabric. Very good original condition.
Category

1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Footstools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Vintage Mid Century MODERN Brown OTTOMANS / Footstools, a Pair
Located in Weehawken, NJ
Mid Century Modern Brown tufted ottomans / footstools, a pair. This is perfect if you have an Eames style lounge chair and need a matching ottoman. Each ottoman is perfectly tufted w...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Chrome

Early 20th Century Queen Anne Mahogany and Upholstered Storage Foot Stool
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century Queen Anne Mahogany and Upholstered Foot Stool with storage Newer upholstery in great shape Measures 22" in width, 13" in depth and 13" in height.
Category

19th Century American American Empire Antique Footstools

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Decorative ISO Phillip Lloyd Powell Stool
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection is an homage to the beauty of vintage and antique pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Wood

Contemporary Footstool 'Grasso' by Stephen Burks, 65 cm
Located in Paris, FR
'Grasso' by Stephen Burks x Bd Barcelona Footstool: Ø36 x h.65 cm Ø14,1 x 25,6 inch Upholstery ref: Clay Leather Brown Frame: Grey An stool that pursues a visual “ultra-comfort”, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Organic Modern Footstools

Materials

Metal

1960's Restored and Refinished Danish Footstool with Leather Upholtery
Located in Knebel, DK
1960's Restored and Refinished Danish footstool with leather upholstery. Danish footstool in slimlined minimalistic yet advanced Scandinavian modern design with it's combination of...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather, Beech

Mies van der Rohe Knoll Barcelona ottoman with brown leather cushion
Located in Ferndale, MI
Barcelona chair and the matching footstool were designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, for the German Pavilion at the International Exposition of 1929, hosted by Barce...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Patina, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Category

2010s Israeli Footstools

Materials

Steel

Panchetto Locus Solus Gae Aulenti Poltronova
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Il “Locus Solus” è stato concepito negli anni 60 e rappresenta un’icona del design moderno italiano. Caratterizzata da linee pulite e geometriche, la poltrona è stata realizzata con ...
Category

1960s Italian Folk Art Vintage Footstools

Materials

Metal

Rare oak hunting footstool by Heinz Heger, Germany 1950s
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Crafted from oak and fabric in Germany during the 1950s. Manufactured by PGH Erzgebirgisches Kunsthandwerk Annaberg Buchholz. To accompany the the Heinz Heger hunting lounge chair or...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Oak

Art Deco Stool, Material Iron, Country France, 1930
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Stools Art Deco. Material: iron You want to live in the golden years, this is the stool that your project needs. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles since 1982.If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'. And you can see more objects to the style for sale. Why are there so many antiques in Argentina? In the 1880 – 1940 there was a grate wave of immigration encouraged by the periods of war that were taking place. 1st World War took place between 1914 and 1918 2nd World War took place between 1939 and 1945 The immigrants options were New York or Buenos Aires. Tickets were cheap and in Buenos Aires they were welcomed with open arms, as it was a country where everything was still to be done. Argentina was the country of new opportunities, labour was needed and religious freedom was assured, in many cases the of the family travel first until they were settled and then the rest of the family members join them. In the immigrant museum “Ellis Island Immigrant Building” in New York you can se the promotional posters of the boats that would take them to a new life. Between the years 1895 and 1896, Argentina had the highest DGP (gross domestic product) per capita in the world according to the Maddison Historical Statistics index, this situation arose due to the large amount of food being exported to European countries, which were at war. The Argentinean ships left the port of Buenos Aires with food, but they returned with furniture, clothes and construction elements, (it´s common to see this the old buildings of the historic neighbourhood of San Telmo, the beams with the inscription “Made in England)”, as well as many markets that were built in Buenos Aires, such us the San Telmo Market, whose structure was brought by ship and afterwards assembled in 900 Defensa Street. With the great influence of European immigrants living in the country, the children of the upper classes travelled to study in France, resulting in the inauguration of “La Maison Argentinienne”, on 27th of June 1928, in the international city of Paris, which hosted many Argentinians that were studying in Frace. It´s the fourth house to be built after France, Canada and Belgium, being the first Spanish-speaking one. Still in place today (17 Bd Jourdan, 75014, Paris, France). Many of the children of these wealthy families who attended international art exhibitions, museums and art courses abroad, took a keen interest in the European style. This is why Buenos Aires was at the time referred as “The Paris of South America”. Between the years 1890 and 1920 more than a hundred Palaces were built on Alvear Avenue the most exclusive avenue in Buenos Aires. Today some of these palaces have been transformed into museums, hotels and embassies. In the year 1936, the Kavanagh building was inaugurated, it was the tallest reinforced concrete building in South America. During 1994 the American Society of Civil Engineers distinguished it as an “international engineering milestone”, and it´s now considered a World Heritage of Modern Architecture. At the time was common to hire foreign architects such as Le Corbusier, who visited Buenos Aires/Argentina in 1929 and in 1948 he drew up the blueprints for a house built in La Plata City (which was declared a World Heritage Site). In 1947, the Hungarian architect Marcelo Breuer designed “Parador Ariston” in the seaside city of Mar del Plata. After an Argentinean student at Harvard University convinced him to come to Argentina. He worked on an urban development project in the Casa Amarilla, area of La Boca. The Ukrainian architect, Vladimiro Acosta, arrives in Argentina in 1928 and worked as an architect until que moved to Brazil. Antonio Bonet, a Spanish architect who worked with Le Corbusier in Paris, arrives in Argentina in 1937, where he carried out several architectural works and in 1938 designs the well-known BFK chair. Andres Kálnay, of Hungarian origin, made around 120 architectural masterpieces, among which the former Munich brewery stands out, he even made the furniture’s design. The German architect, Walter Gropius, director of the Bauhaus, lived in Argentina, where he wrote articles for “Sur” magazine and founded in Buenos Aires, an architectural firm with Franz Möller, who was also an architect, where he built two houses. At the same time several famous designers decided to immigrate to Argentina, among them we can find the well-known French designer, Jean-Michel Frank, who arrived in the country in 1940 and also worked for the Rockefeller family. Special pieces were made, which were sold exclusively in the country, such as the well-known German company “WMF”, who sold their products by catalogue, which were chosen by the ladies of high society in the list of wedding gifts, as well as the pieces designed by Christofle. The Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, made special pieces for Argentinean mansions. In 1904 the first Jansen branch outside Paris was established in Buenos Aires, as the Argentinean clientele demanded a large amount of furniture, from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. In 1970, the brand Rigolleau Argentina made pieces authorised by Lalique. The brands Maple and Thompson also set up shop in the country. The French plastic artist, Marcel Duchamp moved to Argentina in 1918-1919. Glass signed Gallé, Charder, Leverre, Schneider, Muller and other French firms. They were bought in flower shops and were given to ladies with beautiful floral arrangements. Some furniture manufacturers travelled to international fairs and bough the patterns to produce the furniture in Argentina, such as the furniture firm Englander and Bonta, who bought the patterns ins Italy. It is worth mentioning that in Argentina we have the largest community of Italians outside...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Footstools

Materials

Iron

Pair of 19th Century Velvet Upholstered Footstools
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of 19th Century Velvet Upholstered Footstools
Category

19th Century Antique Footstools

Materials

Velvet, Wood

19th Century American Empire Magogany and Needlepoint Upholstered Foot Stool
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century American Empire Magogany and Needlepoint Upholstered Foot Stool. Measures 21.75" in width, 15.75" in depth and 9.5" in height.
Category

19th Century American American Empire Antique Footstools

Materials

Mahogany, Upholstery

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Swivel Footstools
Located in Weymouth, MA
Pair of matching mid-century modern swivel footstools. Stools have a metal base with mid-century mustard colored vinyl seats.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Footstools

Materials

Metal

A 19th Century X Framed Rosewood Stool
Located in Conwy, GB
The seat upholstered in a worn tumbling block silk work tapestry, particularly well carved rosewood X-frame base.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Footstools

Materials

Rosewood

Round Fur Ottoman, Mongolian Sheepskin Pouf
Located in Dural, AU
This round fur ottoman will be the wow factor that your decor needs. The snow white Mongolian fur ottoman will look and feel super lush in any in...
Category

2010s Australian Hollywood Regency Footstools

Materials

Sheepskin

Contemporary Repose Ottoman Footstool Black Smoke Steel & Natural Leather Sample
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Showroom sample The Repose contemporary ottoman and footstool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such...
Category

2010s Spanish Minimalist Footstools

Materials

Brass, Steel

Bruno Mathsson Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Ottoman by Bruno Mathsson for DUX, c.1960s, Sweden. The ottoman was originally paired with the Ingrid armchair. This piece features a tufted caramel leather seat on a bent beech wood...
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather, Beech

Oversized De Sede Black Leather Patchwork Ottoman, 1960s Switzerland
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sophisticated black leather pouf/ottoman by Swiss designer De Sede with triangular patchwork and a final octagonal leather patch at the top. This pouf is in a slightly larger size. H...
Category

1960s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Footstools

Materials

Leather

Antique and Vintage Footstools

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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