A charming bleached wood primitive stick stool, the top crafted from a single section of trunk. This for us epitomises Wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic and philosophical concept that finds beauty in the things that are imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete: the appreciation of simplicity, age, and the natural cycle of growth and decay - finding happiness in the present and letting go of the need for perfection. This gorgeously wonky humble little stool has all these qualities and speaks volumes.

Provenance: The Tudor House, Old Town Hastings, UK

Dimensions: Length 35cm / Depth 26cm / Height 33cm

Country of origin: Turkey

Date of manufacture: c.1920

Material: wood

Condition: excellent - doesn't stand completely flat and has a slight wobble.

The Christmas House

The Tudor House, Hastings, also known as The Christmas House, when it opened to visitors each December, had a place in the hearts of the many that passed through its wee front door.  It was a magical experience, and was likened to stepping into a Brothers Grimm fairytale.  The house is now sold and has passed into memory, yet its magical contents are not quite gone, as Alastair has saved the best for last - for our extra-special Christmas House Contents Sale.

The eclectic mix of primitive Eastern European furniture, English country furniture, folk-art and Black Forest antiques chosen for the house were honest and humble, yet always remarkable, and put together with a sense of theatre - to achieve a more contemporary take on the past.  “It’s all about a careful mix, a telling of a story, and I hope others will find pleasure in the treasures I’ve collected and curated” says Alastair.  “Select pieces that create surprise, that transform your space beyond reality!”