Walnut Fang Deng Square Stool

More portable than heavy chairs, stools have been a favored form of seating in Chinese culture for centuries and were used indoors and out at mealtimes and during social gatherings. This square stool (fang deng) from Shanxi province dates to the mid-19th century and is crafted of lacquered walnut with balanced proportions and traditional joinery.

The seat frame and stretchers are expertly designed with ribbed carvings and rounded corners, meant to imitate the strips of bamboo or willow used in early Chinese bentwood furniture. As though woven by hand, the stacked apron and humpback stretchers appear to wrap gracefully around each of the round corner legs, a charming detail that keeps the wooden tables feeling light and open. The original lacquer finish has faded with time and developed a soft patina that calls to be touched.