Three-legged stools were typical of some areas of Portugal’s Beira Baixa, namely Almeida. Its unique design is connected to the everyday life of farmers. The wood for these stools was extracted from the wheels of oxcarts and was used to build the seat, to which three branches of ash (the most resistant wood available in the region) were added.
Besides being aesthetically original, the stool was also very functional, as it would never wobble no matter how uneven the surface was. It can still be seen in some old farmhouses. This piece of furniture was acclaimed in the most respected book on national vernacular architecture, the survey into Popular Architecture in Portugal (1961).
Redesigned by the architect Samuel Pinto the three-legged stool materializes the will to reintroduce the use of an object rooted in the popular culture. This handcrafted product maintains its original identity by respecting the traditional methods of production. It aims to be a piece of furniture that combines the quality of artisanship to the value of design and evokes the collective imaginary of Portugal’s Beira Baixa.
Three Leg Stool
Dimensions: Aprox. H43 x L65 x W27 cm
Materials: Solid Ash or Solid Walnut, Eco-oil.
Designer: Samuel Pinto / Noema
Boa Safra Edition