Wicker Tripod Stool Attributed to Tony Paul

Find out how this unassuming wicker accent was really a bit of a 1950s rebel

The Story

Short, stout, and scrappy, this organic ottoman accommodates your every whim. It feels right at home anywhere, from bohemian to modern, adding a hint of warm, natural texture to your favorite space. A bit ahead of its time (the official Wicker Revival still a decade off), Tony Paul's woven pouf trotted out onto the decorating scene in the 1950s. Paul was one of a small group of rogue designers who were already reintroducing the world to the wonders of wicker.

A testament to its versatility, each of this sturdy footstool's three wooden legs can be easily unscrewed from their wicker crown with a gentle twist.

The Particulars 

The Creator/Attribution

Tony Paul (1918-2010) was a midcentury modern industrial designer who influenced furniture and lighting designs in the U.S., Italy, and Spain. Born and raised in New York, Paul studied at the Pratt Institute. He went on to work alongside other famous designers, including Arthur Umanoff, Russel Wright, Paul McCobb, and Ben Seibel.

Paul received recognition throughout his career, including a Good Design award from the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). The Good Design initiative was launched in 1950 by Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr. Over the years, Paul's designs were featured in prominent publications, such as House & Garden and The New York Times. Design great George Nelson, father of American Modernism, also includes Paul in his book Chairs.