A rare English oak and elm boarded stool 16th century

the moulded seat above pierced motifs to the aprons, the end board supports with projecting shaped buttresses, losses

The Moller Collection, Thorncombe Park, Surrey;
An Important Private Collection of Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Furniture Formed Under the Guidance of R. W. Symonds, these rooms, May 28th 1982, lot 11.

Illustrated R. W. Symonds, Furniture Making in 17th and 18th Century England, London, 1955, p. 63, fig. 97.

and

Tobias Jellinek, Early British Chairs and Seats from 1500 to 1700, Woodbridge, Forthcoming (2009), pl. 235.

Superb colour and patina. Seat with old losses of moulded border and old fragmented loss on one corner. The seat with typical old marks and indents, partial splits and fragmenting. One long boarded frieze with old fragmented loss in upper right corner (possibly from rodent nibbiling) and old loss of lower rim 'rail' with residual fragmenting on adjoining sites. This frieze has an old diagonal split above the central pierced detail. The opposing long boarded frieze with old loss in upper left corner and loss of apron moulding on lower left corner. Some old surface fragmentation on this board. One end support board with partial split at base. The opposing board with old fragmented knot loss at base. Both of these support boards with wear and old fragmented losses to buttresses. Wear on bases of these components and these boards have traces of worm. Of unsteady stance. This attractive rare stool has presence and portrays its history.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

There is a well documented stool of the same form in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This near identical stool is illustrated in Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed. 1954, Vol. III, p. 163, fig. 3., Charles Tracy, English Medieval Furniture and Woodwork, London, 1988, p.197 and David Knell, English Country Furniture, London, 1992, p. 257, stool no. 363.

Interestingly there is another similar stool illustrated by H. Avary Tipping, Early Tudor 1485-1558, London, 1924, Period I, Vol. II, pl. 12. This comparable stool is illustrated in The Great Chamber of Gifford Hall, Suffolk, it also lacks one frieze rail and could well be the example now in The Victoria and Albert Museum.

For the last related example sold at auction see The Adler Collection, these rooms, 24th February 2005, lot 60. The Adler stool, like the examples cited above, had losses to one stretcher, the offered lot whilst with similar losses is amongst the most complete of these pierced types.

The abstract fretwork pattern on each boarded long side could possibly be a stylised pantocrator. The pantocrator mark of the cross surmounting an orb is a symbol of Christ as ruler of the universe.  An ecclesiastical connection with the offered lot is difficult to prove as the pantocrator mark was used extensively as a decorative motif on both ecclesiastical and secular furniture.