A Rare and Slightly Larger Pair of Nottinghamshire “Dresser” Stools

Made entirely in yew wood, with shaped rectangular top and indented corners. 

Although I have two pairs of these little stools, they are quite rare. Like the small pair (see Ref 286), the leg turnings are very reminiscent of the Windsor chair leg turnings from the top chairs made in Worksop around 1840.

My comments here are the same as with Ref 286, be they for the display of Staffordshire figures or to show the skill of the apprentice wood turner, we will never be totally sure about. It is true to say that Worksop did have an industry based on wood turning. I started dealing after my father in Worksop and I can remember as a child visiting various workshops producing the turned handles – normally in box wood – which were sold to the chisel makers in nearby Sheffield. The last workshop, which must have closed in the 1970’s, was called Oates, who were based on Gateford Road on the eastern side of Worksop.

Anyway, a lot of memories – but these are fabulous items when they turn up.

Worksop (Nottinghamshire), circa 1830-50.

See “The English Regional Chair” by Bernard D Cotton, page 166.

Length 8 inches, depth 5 inches, height 5 inches.

Ref 513