Stool, English, 1480-1520, oak

Boarded oak stool with one carved rail (its pair missing), on two supports carved at the feet with an ogee-shape. The rail (8mm thick) has shaped ends and is pierced with two semi-circles flanking a central 'keyhole' shape.

Construction
The stool originally consisted of five (one rail missng) oak boards varying in thickness. Both inward-sloping side pieces (18-20mm thick) with shaped edges that are chamfered on the inside, fit into a shallow rebate in the underside the seat board, and are cut with two deep slots to receive the front and back rails. The seat board (18-20mm thick) has a moulded edge all round, and is held with 6 dowels onto the side-pieces, effectively holding all the elements of the stool in place.

Given by A.H. Fass, Esq

Given by A.H. Fass esq., Giffards Hall, Wickhambrook, Newmarket
RF 21/3972 ‘worn, damaged, and parts missing’, 'an interesting and rare example of English gothic furniture - probabably early 16th century..'.
'Purchased by the donor in Bury St Edmund’s' according to Tracy, but this detail is not recorded in the RP.
On loan to Mary Newman’s Cottage, Saltash since 1984.

Dating
All the elements of the stool appear to be of the same date, but given the inherent frailty of the design and the likely use, it seems unlikely that it can date from c1500 (as the ornament suggests), and a much later date should also be considered.

See also Fred Roe, A History of Oak Furniture, 1920, for similar stools

On loan to Mary Newman's Cottage, Saltash

W.95-1921