A Pair of Queen Anne Walnut Stools
This pair of stools will always hold a special place in the heart of the Apter-Fredericks' archives. We have never seen a pair like them before and we will probably never see another pair as good as these again.
We originally exhibited them on our stand at the Grosvenor House Antiques Fair in June 1990 when they were one of our star pieces. We sold them to Sir John Gooch.
Sir John was a most enigmatic gentleman, the 12th Baronet, he was always impeccably dressed, with a freshly picked flower from his garden in his lapel; and he was an absolute pleasure to deal with. He had been a client of Apter-Fredericks's for a number of years. His eye for great pieces was second to none and over those years he had bought some marvellous pieces from us as he formed a most outstanding collection at his home, Benacre Hall, in Suffolk.
This exceptional pair of walnut stools were one such purchase. The veneers have faded to a golden colour, the needlework, although not original, is contemporary and has gently faded colours that match the tone of the wood.
The distinctive 'flying scrolls' or 'curling brackets' are an extremely rare feature that we have only seen on a handful of other pieces. These include a settee and a sidetable illustrated in 'A Picture History of Furniture' by Frank Davis, the saleroom correspondent for Country Life Magazine. An almost identical bracket can also be seen on a set of eight George I black and gold side chairs formerly the property of Mark Heathcote Amory.
The proportions of the stools also set them apart from other lesser examples. Not just their size but also the shape of the legs. The contrast between the convex shape of the top of the legs and the concave shape to the lower half is superbly graceful, and with the legs terminating in raised pad feet, the stools are provided with a sense of being firmly rooted to the ground.
When one then adds to the above features what one might call the added extras, or the attention to detail by a master craftsman, a true masterpiece is created. By this we are referring to the scrolls at the terminals of each bracket, the rings halfway down each leg, and most particularly the distinct separation of each side of the stool so that there is a small gap on the leading edge of each leg.
Every so often a piece of furniture comes along that one will never tire of. These are the pieces that one can look at every day and find oneself smiling with pleasure each time. These stools are one such piece.
 "A Pair of Queen Anne Walnut Stools")