A lovely pair of Thebes stools attributable to Liberty and Company in London. The inspiration for the Thebes stool was the collection of Egyptian domestic antique furniture discovered at Thebes in Egypt which had been acquired by the British Museum between 1829 and 1835. The collection included a stool with shaped inlaid legs and fragments of a leather seat which apparently inspired various 19th century designs.

Liberty & Co. patented the design for the Thebes stool in 1884, this became an iconic design for the store and it continued to be sold by them well into the early 20th century. The first Liberty catalogue known to exist was produced in the early 1880's. It celebrated Oriental and Egyptian items, setting the fashion for the store for many years. Examples of these stools from Liberty & Co. can be seen in the book: 'Liberty's Furniture 1875-1915, The Birth of Modern Interior Design' by Daryl Bennett.

These Thebes stools were made around the turn of the last century as the popularity of Egyptology gained momentum in England throughout the Victorian period. They are an homage to the stools used by ancient Egyptian royalty and thus it is a style often referred to as Egyptian revival. These stools were hand made out of Maple and date to the earliest part of the 20th century but the timeless design makes them look as contemporary today as they would have done the day they were sold in the famous Regent Street store.

Condition: minor wear and tear, consummate with age. Please refer to photographs.

Dimensions: 43cm wide, 36cm high, 43cm deep.