Footstool

Production footstool with Shaker trademark decal, South Family, Mount Lebanon, NY

Object ID:
1957.9494.1
Community:
New York, Mount Lebanon
Description

Footstool with four turned maple legs/feet (1" max diameter) tenoned into mortises (angled) in cleats extending along either side. 1/2" diameter maple (?) stretchers extend from leg to leg lengthwise and are tenoned into the bulbous center of each leg. A pine platform is secured to the top of the cleats providing a support for the padding (material unknown) which is covered by muslin then a blue felt-like fabric and tacked to the edges of the pine board (iron tacks). A cover (hooked?) has been fashioned to slip tightly over the padding and the pine support. This cover has a red square center and a (now) greenish colored border. The wood has the dark stain with varnish over common to many of the production chairs made at the South Family. Shaker chair trademark decal in center of bottom.

Notes

This type of footstool, sometimes known as a "cricket," raised the user's knees to facilitate handwork such as sewing, so they are also referred to as sewing stools. A copper printing plate (2006.3.4) in the museum's collection shows the stool as it was pictured in the Shaker sale catalog.

New York Mount Lebanon South Family

New York Mount Lebanon South Family

Do you have information you'd like to share?

CONTACT US

Shaker Museum updates records with information as it becomes available.

Copyright of this artwork Citation rules

Citation rules

Shaker Museum Footstool. https://shakermuseum.us/object/?id=2480. Accessed on November 1, 2024

RELATED OBJECTS

2006.3.4 - Block, Printing - Copper plate showing a Shaker production footstool, Mount Lebanon, NY

LEARN MORE

We are dedicated to making the cultural heritage of the Shakers available to the public for free.

DONATE