Four-Legged Stool With Carved Apron

This elm stool originated in Shandong Province some time in the first quarter of the 20th century. It is simple - pure country - but with an artistic twist.  There simply is no structural need to have added the carved apron to this stool.  The stool would have been perfectly sound without the apron.  Frankly, I just love it when a carpenter adds something to an ordinary piece of furniture simply to show a little originality and a bit of an artistic flair.  So how would I describe it?  I would say "pure country, with a bit of artistry thrown in."  The legs of this stool have been shortened due to rot in the leg bottoms.  As most know by now, there were no hardwood floors in China, and furniture legs frequently absorbed moisture from the floor.  Indeed one of the signs of age in any Chinese piece of furniture is  legs that show water damage.

Wood: Elm

Province: Shangdong

Dimensions: 20" x 15" x 12"

Price: SOLD