In the book Make A Joint Stool from a Tree, Alexander and I included a sampling of period stools illustrated to show some of what we were studying when we embarked on our joinery explorations.
(If you’ve just got here & have missed the book, go here http://www.lostartpress.com/Make_a_Joint_Stool_from_a_Tree_p/bk-majsfat.htm )
Readers of the blog know that I try to regularly include period examples, for a couple of reasons. One is the basic premise that the study of period artifacts is essential to learning how to make this stuff. I’ve been very fortunate in having access to many collections for study. Along those lines, I know it’s not practical for everyone to get to see these objects in detail, curators, collectors, etc just don’t have the time and resources available to accommodate everyone who wants to crawl around their furniture. So I try to let you see some of it here.
Some collectors and collections (most maybe) distinguish between American and English furniture – and either focus on one or the other. Me, I like them both. The sheer numbers of surviving English pieces makes it much more interesting than sampling American pieces. In the book we show some New England stools as well as some from old England.
Here’s a photo of two joined forms sent to me last week by Bob Trent who often searches auction listings on line…this one’s from Bonham’s. (to be able to zoom on the photo, go to their website: http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20404/lot/288/
These are interesting because of their central stretcher, instead of the usual arrangement all around the frame. This central stretcher has never been seen on any known American stools or forms, not even on tables. I like this framing though. It is easier to sit at, I did it for my kitchen table. On the forms from Bonham’s auction, the joiner made the framing simple by planing the side stretchers to the same thickness as the stiles. This means the center stretcher’s shoulder-to-shoulder dimension is the same as that of the long aprons. On my kitchen table I foolishly didn’t do it that way, and had to do a test-fit to get the length of the center stretcher. Learn by mistakes, next form I did this way I equalized the side stretchers and stiles and got on quite well.
So this is another variation on joined stools and forms, After you’ve read the book and made your first stools, then you can do # 2 with a central stretcher. Send your photos of your stools here & I will put them on the blog…
See Chris Schwarz’ blog of a week ago or so to see some other variations on joined stools…
http://blog.lostartpress.com/2012/11/06/other-kinds-of-joint-stools/
PETER FOLLANSBEE: JOINER’S NOTES 
what a source you are! thank you. Will see you in Port Townsend
I have heard the english refer to grades in school as “forms”, as in “My daughter is in 2nd form”. Wonder if that came from the stretched out joint stool?
As Peter will recall from the Godfrey collection, a Boston late 17C/early 18C table type is known among collectors as a “high/low” table. This refers, not to mood swings, but to stretchers that are set high on the long sides (front and rear) and low on the ends. The earlier ones have ball turnings analogous to those of Cromwellian upholstered chairs, while the later ones have the vasiform turnings of the William & Mary style.