Sculptural brutalist stool, vintage side table, 1950s.

Here is an exceptional stool with a resolutely sculptural character, a unique piece of brutalist folk art with a rustic and assertive style, reminiscent of creations shaped with a billhook and chisel by rural carpenters during the 1950s to 1970s, a period of renewal for vernacular furniture driven by anonymous creators instinctively working with raw materials. Entirely carved from thick solid wood, probably oak or local fruitwood, it features a circular seat with an edge sculpted into regular notches evoking a cogwheel or a stylised flower, giving the piece a striking graphic strength. The three tapered and slightly splayed legs ensure optimal stability, carved with the same embraced rusticity, the whole displaying a typical natural grey and brown patina of aged raw wood. The overall condition is very satisfactory considering its age: the signs of use highlight the authenticity and charm of this handcrafted piece, far from any industrial production. A true object of curiosity, this stool can serve as an extra seat, a side table, a pedestal for a plant or sculpture, or a decorative centrepiece in an entrance, living room, or artist's studio. Its deeply unique character makes it an authentic piece of folk art.