What are the most popular designs for antique benches and stools?

There are many designs and styles of antique benches and stools. Here is a glimpse of some notable antique bench and stool styles:

• Victorian: Resembling Gothic and Rococo Revival styles, with curved lines and intricate carving, often made of wrought iron and dark oak materials.
• Mid-Century: Distinguished by the use of solid-colored fabric and straight angled designs, manufactured from approximately 1933 to 1965.
• Arts and Crafts: This style emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with earthy details and motifs from the natural world.
• Louis XVI: Furniture from the time of King Louis XVI in France, featuring visible carved wooden legs and richly upholstered seats.
• Chippendale: Incorporating ornate Gothic-style tracery and mahogany accents, widespread in England in the 1700s.

What are the categories of antique benches and stools?

• Bar stools: Traditionally made of wood or metal (like chrome) with padded seats, often without backrests, sometimes equipped with a swivel design and footrest.
• Kitchen stools: Varied styles to complement kitchen design, with different designs from various periods.

Types of benches include:

• Monk bench: Made of wood, usually not cushioned, with a high back, suitable for entrances and hallways.
• Storage bench: Similar to trunks, with or without a backrest, often upholstered or hard-seated, with a storage space beneath the seat.
• Triple bench: Benches with three separated seats.
• Vanity bench: Used for vanities in bedrooms or bathrooms, usually without backrests and upholstered.
• Choir bench: Wooden, unupholstered, with undivided seats.
• Gossip Bench: Shaped so that two seats are joined together but facing in opposite directions.

What materials are most commonly used for benches and stools?

• Wood: Hardwoods like mahogany, oak, walnut, etc., and softwoods like pine, spruce, fir, etc., with hardwood generally being more highly valued.
• Wrought iron: Commonly used for outdoor benches and stools, heavy and durable.
• Metals: Steel and aluminum used in furniture manufacturing.
• Upholstery: Fabrics like velvet, brocade, silk, cotton, or wool, and synthetic materials like suede or vinyl for upholstery.

What were some of the most expensive stools and benches sold at auction?

• Set of four Ming Dynasty stools made of huanghuali wood sold for $861,551 at Sotheby's in 2015.
• A huanghuali bench from the same era went for $483,655 in 2020 at Sotheby's.
• A 1992 bronze bench shaped like a jaguar by Judy Kensley McKie sold for $200,000 at Christie's in 2020.