Footstool
ca. 1842 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Footstools (very low stools for use with a seat) were in use from at least the 1530s, but were very much a luxury item of furniture for the extra comfort of the user, and often signified wealth and privilege. In royal palaces they were sometimes used as seats for a few influential courtiers, but even this was a mark of royal favour, since most people were required to stand in the presence of the monarch.
A footstool for a child is very unusual indeed, and it is significant that this one is said to be a copy of one presented to Victoria, the Princess Royal (born 1840), the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Although Victoria and Albert tried in many ways to give their children what was a realistic upbringing in comparison with some royal children, Princess Victoria was in a rather special position. She was not only their first child, but was born at a time when there had been few legitimate and healthy royal children for some years, and was therefore of considerable importance.
A footstool for a child is very unusual indeed, and it is significant that this one is said to be a copy of one presented to Victoria, the Princess Royal (born 1840), the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Although Victoria and Albert tried in many ways to give their children what was a realistic upbringing in comparison with some royal children, Princess Victoria was in a rather special position. She was not only their first child, but was born at a time when there had been few legitimate and healthy royal children for some years, and was therefore of considerable importance.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wool on canvas, worked in tent stitch; wood |
| Brief description | Child's footstool on four circular feet; uholstered in canvas embroidered in wool to show a basket of mixed flowers; England, ca.1842 |
| Physical description | Child's wooden footstool on four circular feet. [original description of 1937] Wool on canvas; tent stitch. On a beige field is placed a basket of various coloured flowers, the ground immediately under the basket is green. The border is formed by a scroll pattern in white on blue with outer borders of white on brown. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Mabel H Gillett |
| Object history | Given to the museum by Miss Mabel H Gillett of London (RF 70/1937). According to the donor the stool was made by her great-grandmother as a copy of one embroidered for Queen Adelaide to be presented to the Princess Royal [Princess Victoria, eldest child of Queen Victoria] ca. 1842 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Footstools (very low stools for use with a seat) were in use from at least the 1530s, but were very much a luxury item of furniture for the extra comfort of the user, and often signified wealth and privilege. In royal palaces they were sometimes used as seats for a few influential courtiers, but even this was a mark of royal favour, since most people were required to stand in the presence of the monarch. A footstool for a child is very unusual indeed, and it is significant that this one is said to be a copy of one presented to Victoria, the Princess Royal (born 1840), the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Although Victoria and Albert tried in many ways to give their children what was a realistic upbringing in comparison with some royal children, Princess Victoria was in a rather special position. She was not only their first child, but was born at a time when there had been few legitimate and healthy royal children for some years, and was therefore of considerable importance. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.8-1937 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
