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Medieval Stools

MEDIEVAL STYLE

The Middle Ages in Europe followed the end of the Roman Empire, and in this time of change, which preceded the Renaissance, furniture was simple and utilitarian, with most homes having only the necessities like chests and benches. Much of medieval furniture, which was often made in oak or walnut, was built for the elite, particularly the emerging merchant class who owned multiple homes.

Life for many in the medieval era was unstable, and furniture was designed to be functional and portable. Peasants worked the fields for affluent landowners and didn’t have access to literature in the way that nobles and people of the church did (women less so than men). The furniture in their modest dwellings was typically limited to cookware and a handful of stools. Foldable chairs, while uncommon in homes of the early Middle Ages and emblematic of wealth, like all other furnishings of the time, allowed for easy transportation of a household. Trestle tables with detachable legs and collapsible beds were designed to be simply moved from place to place.

Medieval blanket chests were among the most important furniture objects and could further serve as tables or even beds. Some ancient traditions were carried forward to build this sturdy furniture, such as turnery. Although the furniture was minimally designed, embellishments like carvings added elegance to the heavy wood pieces. These details sometimes reflected trends in religious art like rose windows.

By the later Middle Ages, storage pieces like chests of drawers were often adorned with high relief carvings, such as geometric and floral motifs. By the 14th and 15th centuries, design had developed to include more involved pieces like cupboards and desks, while benches frequently doubled as chests with hinged seats. Beds also changed in this era from basic boards to four-post designs with large drapes to keep the sleeper warm. These beds and other medieval bedroom furniture were significant status symbols, passed down through families and used as places to conduct business and receive visitors.

Surviving examples of medieval furniture are very rare, yet its distinctive aesthetics influenced later styles like William and Mary and Arts and Crafts.

Find a collection of medieval seating, garden elements, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Medieval
Antique Early French Gothic Carved Oak Tabouret Stool End Table Plant Stand
Antique Early French Gothic Carved Oak Tabouret Stool End Table Plant Stand

Antique Early French Gothic Carved Oak Tabouret Stool End Table Plant Stand

Located in Forney, TX

A rare and remarkable authentic nearly 300 year old early French Gothic hand carved oak tabouret (today use as a stool, end table or plant stand) Crafted in France in the 17th/18th ...

Category

18th Century French Antique Medieval Stools

Materials

Iron

An Oak Joint Coffin Stool, Occasional Table, Sewing Box
An Oak Joint Coffin Stool, Occasional Table, Sewing Box

An Oak Joint Coffin Stool, Occasional Table, Sewing Box

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

An Oak Joint coffin stool, occasional table, sewing box This a good Oak Joint or Joined Stool which has the added advantage of an opening top with a st...

Category

Early 20th Century Medieval Stools

Materials

Oak

2 Neo Gothic Style Oak Stools, circa 1950
2 Neo Gothic Style Oak Stools, circa 1950

2 Neo Gothic Style Oak Stools, circa 1950

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

2 Neo Gothic style oak stools, circa 1950. PRICE IS FOR ONE TWO ARE AVAILABLE

Category

1950s European Vintage Medieval Stools

Materials

Oak

19th Century Golden Oak Joint Stool
19th Century Golden Oak Joint Stool

19th Century Golden Oak Joint Stool

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

19th century golden oak joint stool This a good oak Joined stool a good solid stool, it has a good natural color and a lovely patina, it makes a gr...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Medieval Stools

Materials

Oak

FOUR FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KITCHEN BAR STOOLs
FOUR FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KITCHEN BAR STOOLs

FOUR FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KITCHEN BAR STOOLs

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of four stunning fully restored hand dyed Whisky Brown leather, Gothic Revival Steeple bac...

Category

20th Century European Medieval Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

Arts and Crafts Oak Joint Stool, Occasional Table with Drawer
Arts and Crafts Oak Joint Stool, Occasional Table with Drawer

Arts and Crafts Oak Joint Stool, Occasional Table with Drawer

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Arts and Crafts Oak Joint Stool, Occasional Table with Drawer This a good Golden Oak Joint or Joined Stool with a carved frieze which is a drawer for storage This is a good solid s...

Category

1880s Antique Medieval Stools

Materials

Oak

SIX FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KiTCHEN BAR STOOLS 6
SIX FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KiTCHEN BAR STOOLS 6

SIX FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KiTCHEN BAR STOOLS 6

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of six stunning fully restored hand dyed Whisky Brown leather, Gothic Revival Steeple back...

Category

20th Century European Medieval Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

TEN FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KITCHEN BAR STOOLs
TEN FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KITCHEN BAR STOOLs

TEN FINE RESTORED BROWN LEATHER GOTHIC REVIVAL STEEPLE BACK KITCHEN BAR STOOLs

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of ten stunning fully restored hand dyed Whisky Brown leather, Gothic Revival Steeple back...

Category

20th Century European Medieval Stools

Materials

Leather, Oak

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Located in Dallas, TX

Hand-carved in France in the 1800’s, this oak tabouret stool was sculpted by an immensely talented menuisier in the Gothic style. A rectangular seat with canted corners has an elongated elliptic cutout in the center. Below each canted corner is a shallow corbel that extends down to form the back of a figurative leg. There are two distinct characters, one being a woman genuflecting on her left knee and the other being a squatting woman. Both women have their hands on their knees with a cloak hood pulled down to their foreheads. The sides that are flanked by identical carvings have been left open, allowing a simple rectangular stretcher to be viewed. Each end of the stretcher passes through a connector, where it is secured with a dowel on the outside. Above the connectors is an inset quadrilateral panel that is adorned with several recognizable Gothic motifs. In the center of the panel is a two-tiered rosette set inside a geometric shape with concave sides. The curved edges have been embellished with ogee protuberances, like rose thorns. Similar ogees can be found along the thin molding that mirrors the panel’s edges. The frieze has been carved on all four sides with additional signature Gothic elements, such as cusping, foils, and counter curves. Once again, there are two distinctive sets of carvings: one featuring concave curves and the other having convex curves. Our 19th century French oak tabouret makes for a highly decorative seating option in a bedroom or powder room. It can be used as a footstool when paired with another highly carved chair.

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Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

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Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

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Located in Brooklyn, NY

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Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

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Medieval stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Medieval stools for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage stools created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, oak and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval stools made in a specific country, there are Europe, Denmark, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original stools, popular names associated with this style include Arthur Umanoff, and Daystrom Furniture. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for stools differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $707 and tops out at $3,850 while the average work can sell for $1,042.