These rose-flowered 'tabouret' stools, of chamfer-edged oak and medieval X-shaped form, are designed in the antiquarian 'New Palace of Westminster' style invented by the architect A.W.N. Pugin (d.1852). Pugin's book Gothic Furniture in the Style of the 15th Century, 1835, popularised the medieval fashion and firms such as John C. Crace & Son of Wigmore Street also produced Gothic furniture in large quantities. In 1849 Pugin sent Crace a 'plain' chair pattern, with related 'chamfered' frame together with a letter stressing 'it is very important to have some simple chairs for the domestic market' (M. Aldrich et al., A.W.N. Pugin, London, 1995, no. 108).
A similar pair of stools was sold, Christie's, London, 23 November 2006, lot 184.