GRACEFUL LEGS

Queen Anne curves hold a special appeal for this woodworker.

SHOP OWNER: Ken Culley

LOCATION: Southampton, Ontario, Canada

I have always enjoyed shaping wood using hand tools and the Queen Anne style cabriole legs with their graceful curves provide me the opportunity to indulge my interest.

It is my understanding that footstools were not common in the 18th century; therefore, this footstool is not a copy of an authentic antique. For this project I used the American Woodworker design by Alf Sharp.

I used South American mahogany for the stool with poplar for the loose seat. Mahogany is easy to work with few if any knots. Poplar being a softer wood is easier for tacking the loose seat material. I tacked 1/8 compressed cardboard across the loose seat frame to support one-inch high density foam.

I turned the feet on a lathe before cutting out the outline of the legs. This allows centering of the leg stock in the lathe. The finish is a red mahogany stain with a medium gloss lacquer.