A characterful oak joint stool in the Jacobean Revival taste, circa 1900 to 1920s, of low, square and very sturdy proportions. The rectangular top is set within a plain moulded frame, with a gently dished and well-worn surface, and sits on a deep frieze applied at each corner with turned roundels, a charming detail that gives the piece a distinctly architectural quality. The four legs are boldly turned with ring and baluster decoration, standing on square block feet that carry matching applied roundels, and are joined by two tiers of chunky bobbin-turned stretchers, giving the whole a lovely rhythmic, almost sculptural presence. The oak has been stained and aged to a deep, dark brown with a dry, softly polished patina, and the top carries the gentle marks and honest wear you would expect of a piece that has been used and enjoyed for the best part of a century. At this scale it is wonderfully versatile, working equally well as a low occasional table beside a sofa, a footstool by the fire, a seat in a hallway, or a stand for a lamp, plant or pile of books. Solid, decorative and full of period character, a most appealing little piece in good original condition.
