Large Carved Three Legged, Molar-like Tabletop Folk Art Chair antique stuffed cat Good for holding the newspaper

Good for holding the newspaper

with mother of pearl inlay punctuated by a pattern of brass pique nails

I believe allowing for tightening once filled

which once belonged to the Reading Lab at Illinois State University

and I've got it sitting under some heavy books to flatten it further

Large Carved Three Legged, Molar-like Tabletop Folk Art Chair antique stuffed cat Good for holding the newspaperThe first thing I thought when I spotted this chair (purchased from a dealer with fabulous things in Medina, NY, near Rochester) was that the lower half looked just like a tooth (albeit with 3 roots rather than 4), and it reminded me of an antique dentist trade sign in the shape of a molar that I have been coveting forever but is well beyond my reach. How much better though to find the tooth form incorporated into a curious three legged chair! Really