1920s English Oak Joint Stool – Ministry of Pensions Curative Workshops

A remarkable English oak joint stool made in the Curative Workshops of the Ministry of Pensions Hospital in Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Established to aid in the rehabilitation of servicemen following the First World War, curative workshops combined therapeutic work with practical craftsmanship. This substantial oak stool was made in that tradition, with a thick rectangular top, turned-and-blocked legs and turned stretchers inspired by early English furniture.

The original workshop plaque remains affixed beneath the stool and reads “Made in Curative Workshops, Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne.”

The dark oak retains a beautifully aged surface with evidence of use consistent with its history. A wonderfully functional piece with an unusually compelling provenance.

Dimensions: 23.85" L × 14" W × 18.75" H
Origin: Newcastle-on-Tyne, England