THE LEGS LATE 17TH CENTURY

Adam Bowett considers the specific outline of the legs on this stool with its pronounced 'break' in the scroll, with the foot being scrolled forwards rather than back to be the result of the influence of the Royal chairmaker Thomas Roberts. This design was first depicted in Francis Sandford's History of the Coronation of James II and Queen Mary published in 1687 and was to become common in the 1690s. The prominently arched stretcher was introduced around 1700, and many of Thomas Roberts' bills of this period specifically mention this feature:- 'for six square stoole frames walnuttree feet and arched rails carved and pollished' (1703) (A. Bowett, English Furniture 1660 - 1714, From Charles II to Queen Anne, Woodbridge, p. 100, pp. 236 - 241, and p. 250).