Louis XV Rococo Gilded Footstool - Hand-Carved Cabriole Frame with Wine Red Velvet

Design & Inspiration

Set this footstool at the foot of an armchair or before a vanity and the room shifts — not because the piece announces itself loudly, but because it fills a space that most furniture overlooks. Faithfully reproduced in the tradition of the Louis XV Rococo period (1730–1770), the stool captures the era's essential belief: that every object in a well-appointed room, however modest in function, deserves to be a work of craft. The serpentine apron that runs between all four legs, carved with flowing C-scrolls and foliate rocaille motifs, is the piece's defining signature — not merely decorative trim, but the visual heart of the whole composition.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The frame is constructed from solid pine seasoned to below 10% humidity — chosen for its dimensional stability and the way it accepts deep relief carving without splitting. Each of the four cabriole legs sweeps outward from a carved knee, transitioning into a scroll foot that curls just enough to lift the stool visually off the floor. The entire frame is finished in gold leaf, burnished to the warm satin tone characteristic of authentic 18th-century French gilding — not the hard brightness of electroplated gold, but a layered, hand-applied warmth that deepens in raking light. The seat is upholstered in deep wine red velvet, a colour that the French court associated with ceremony and rank. The fabric is cut and fitted to the curved seat rail with precision, achieving a clean, taut line across the top without a single visible seam on the face.

Dimensions & Details

Width: 90 cm / Depth: 60 cm / Height: 100 cm
These proportions make this an unusually generous footstool — deep enough to seat one or serve as an ottoman beside a chaise longue. The height places the velvet surface comfortably within reach of a standard armchair or low sofa, and the oval-tending rectangular top surface accommodates a tray, a book, or simply a pair of resting feet with equal ease.

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every element of this piece — from the raw frame joinery to the final gilded finish — is executed by hand in the workshops of Brass & Wood in Egypt. The carvers work from period drawings and physical reference pieces, training for years before touching a production frame. The result is not a machine-pressed approximation of Rococo ornament, but actual hand-carved relief work: each leaf, each scroll cut individually, sanded, sealed, and gilded by a craftsman who understands why the original designers made the choices they did. This is what separates a Brass & Wood piece from catalogue furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this made from?

The frame is solid pine (below 10% humidity), finished in hand-applied gold leaf. The upholstery is deep wine red velvet over high-density foam, fitted without visible seams on the top surface.

Is assembly required?

No assembly is required. The footstool arrives fully constructed and ready to place.

Can this be customized?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customization on fabric colour and finish. Contact our team to discuss available options before placing your order.