Italian
Two Stools (Sgabelli), late 19th century
Walnut, painted leather , 47.6 x 41.4 x 34.2 cm (18 3/4 x 16 5/16 x 13 7/16 in.)
These are two identical Italian walnut stools. The tops are upholstered in painted leather. The wooden apron has dentil carving. The four scroll-shaped legs are decorated with vine and floral medallions. The legs gracefully curve inward and end in feet decorated with several balls. Tooled greenish-yellow leather fills the area created by the curve of the legs.
Long Gallery
Commentary
These nineteenth century sgabelli, or stools, are upholstered in faux gilt leather. The process required imitation silver leaf varnished with a yellow pigment to appear gold. The makers of this stool may not have had access to large quantities of quality timber: they glued together small scraps of wood to create its frame.