Monastic oak pedestal stool with clover cutouts, French neogothic, 1900s

Oak pedestal stool with pierced elements in the French neogothic monastic style, made of solid wood without stains and dated circa 1900. The structure features a tapered silhouette with a square section that narrows towards the upper square surface, reinforced by hand-carved stepped corbels. The piece is preserved in its original oak wood without stains or artificial colorants, protected only by the manual application of natural wax. Each of the four side faces incorporates pierced elements taken directly from late medieval French ecclesiastical architecture. The base openings replicate the silhouette of the ogee arch, elevating the furniture's presence. The upper third of each face features a circular oculus with a clover cutout framed by hand-carved concentric moldings. The structural assembly dispenses with modern screws, being consolidated with hand-forged iron nails with embossed heads featuring a Latin cross motif. The interior reverse of the panels retains the original bark and sapwood, known technically as the dosse, evidencing the craftsmanship of the monastic artisans from southern France from which this beautiful piece originates. It is a highly versatile and beautiful piece that can be used as both a stool and a pedestal to enhance artworks. Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. The oak surface shows natural shrinkage cracks and pronounced grain textures that confirm its age without compromising its solid structural stability.