Four Leg Stool

Lighter and smaller than most furniture, wooden stools are easy to store or place in a corner to bring out for an unexpected guest. This wonderful versatility made stools ubiquitous in Chinese homes, both rural and imperial, for thousands of years. Daily use and passage of time have added character to the original lacquer of this four legged example from the 19th century. The multiple thin coats of lacquer would have protected the wood from the elements. Its simple and elegant braces are crossed in the center forming the same shape as the Mandarin character for the number “10”.