The footstool is a furniture form that has been noted since antiquity. Historically, its uses reflect a range of functions designed for every level of society. Stools could serve to raise one’s feet above a cold, drafty floor or as an adjunct to an elevated seat for an individual of great import. 

Period references identify that the terms footstool and cricket were used interchangeably between the 17th and mid-19th centuries. As previously noted, their uses were diverse and, in addition to those specified above, footstools were also designed as seats for children. From a practical standpoint, simple board-framed examples and Windsors were the most serviceable and, based on surviving examples, were more prevalent than high-style mahogany versions, such as this Philadelphia example. 

The Philadelphians’ preference for boldly executed Grecian furniture can be perceived in this diminutive stool, which embodies the aesthetics of the early 19th century. Its graceful, contoured arms and richly carved legs are reminiscent of contemporary large-scale forms, such as sofas, window seats, and easy chairs. Elements characteristic of this regional school include the profuse carved decoration—specifically, the bestial paw feet and hairy legs, along with the foliate scrolled supports concluding with their distinctive curled tips.