Blue Steel: Stool By Toledo Metal Furniture Company, ca. 1940s

I’m partial to a stool, especially ones like this 1940’s Toledo stool manufactured in – you guessed it – Toledo, Ohio. They’re virtually indestructible, versatile and drip with character. The patina on the bent steel of this example is superb especially after a bit of elbow grease removing the layers of dirt and rusts spots.

Though Toledo is best known for its drafting/ factory stool which currently attracts a hefty price, I reckon these smaller stools are quiet achievers, most likely due to the fact that it’s not widely known that they were manufactured by Toledo. Shhh…