Editing Footstool

{{Short description|Piece of furniture used to elevate the feet}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2014}}
[[File:زیرپایی.JPG|Editing footstool|thumb|200px]]
[[Image:Ottoman (furniture).jpg|thumb|An [[Ottoman (furniture)|Ottoman footstool]]]]
[[File:Self portrait of William Notman.jpg|thumb|Self-portrait of [[William Notman]] (with one foot resting on a footstool)]]
[[Image:Pedal Locations in 2007 Subaru Legacy.jpg|thumb|[[Automobile pedal]]s in a [[Subaru Legacy]]. From left to right: foot rest, clutch, brake, accelerator.]]
A '''footstool''' ('''foot stool''', '''footrest''', '''foot rest''') is a piece of [[furniture]] or a [[support (structure)|support]] used to elevate the [[foot|feet]]. There are two main types of footstool, which can be loosely categorized into those designed for [[comfort]] and those designed for function.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bunkbeds.withstairs.com/footstool.aspx |title=Footstool |access-date=2013-03-07 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412045756/http://bunkbeds.withstairs.com/footstool.aspx |archive-date=2013-04-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Comfort==
This type of footstool is used to provide comfort to a person seated, for example, in a [[chair]] or [[couch|sofa]]. It is typically a short, wide, four-legged [[stool (seat)|stool]]. The top is [[upholstery|upholstered]] and padded in a fabric or [[Hide (skin)|animal hide]], such as leather. This type of footstool is also a type of [[Ottoman (furniture)|ottoman]]. It allows the seated person to rest their feet upon it, supporting the legs at a mostly horizontal level, thus giving rise to the alternate term ''footrest''. High quality footstools are height–adjustable.

==Function==
This type of footstool supports a person's (usually a child's) feet that do not reach the floor when seated. The footstool is placed under the feet of a sitting person so that the person's feet may rest comfortably on it. An example is the type of [[piano]] footstool used in conjunction with a [[piano bench]]. It is also used to make the [[blood circulation]] of the body flow more freely when sitting down.

A [[barber chair]] and a [[shoeshiner]] have foot rests. An [[automobile]] typically has a "dummy [[automobile pedal|pedal]]" that acts as a foot rest to discourage "riding the clutch" or "riding the brake". A foot [[wikt:peg|peg]] is another type of foot rest usually on [[BMX bicycle]]s, [[motorcycle]]s, the [[Ford N-Series tractor]], some [[kayak]]s, the [[Impossible wheel]], and other [[Transport|transportation]] devices.

== History ==
Footstools have been known for many years, and have evolved throughout history. The footstool is attested in [[ancient Egypt]], where it was utilized to ascend chairs perched high off the ground. It was also used to rest a person's feet when he or she was seated.

In the 18th century a low, long footstool called a fender stool was popular. It was placed in front of the fireplace, and long enough for all of the family members to place their feet and warm them up.

Footstools were generally interchangeable in everyday life from the 17th through the early 19th century. In early American homes the footstool was very valuable, and took precious space although the living quarters were cramped.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.peggymcclard.com/justforfun/details.asp?action=view&cid=10&iid=13|title = Just for Fun - History of Footstools - Peggy McClard Antiques - Americana & Folk Art|last = McClard|first = Peggy|website = Peggymcclard.com|access-date = 2016-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.kipa.co.il/%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A3-%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9C/%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%91-%D7%94%D7%91%D7%99%D7%AA/%D7%94%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%93-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%93%D7%A9-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%98%D7%91%D7%97|title= Bar chairs|website=Kipa.co.il}} Tuesday, 25 December 2018 </ref>

In line with this, the exhibition 'A History of the World' at [[Mevagissey]] Museum in [[Cornwall]] showed an emigrant's footstool which was made by an emigrant from Cornwall in North America sometime around 1850s.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/SI0XOf4rSY-tUzLn6ZgoEA|title = BBC - A History of the World - Object : Emigrant's foot stool|website = Bbc.co.uk|access-date = 2016-03-30}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ottoman (furniture)]]
* [[Tuffet]]
* [[Arm rest]]
* [[Head rest]]
* [[Step (footing)]]
* [[Kursi (disambiguation)|Kursi]]
* [[Ayat al-Kursi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Footstools}}

[[Category:Furniture]]
[[Category:Chairs]]