A Good Early 20thC Pine Step Ladder

Origin: British
Period Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: N/A
Date: c.1910-30
When Closed:
Height: 63 inches
Width: 15 inches
Depth: 6 inches

The well sized pine frame with original iron hinges having six rungs and top step within vertical stiles and rope stays, the whole with splashes of old decorators paint, survives from the early twentieth century.

The condition of the ladder is totally original so remains un cleaned and un restored so decoratively it is delightful with splattered colours of paint visible. The ladder can easily be used as it is stable or of course just admired. One of the rope stays has recently been replaced with blue cord.

The word “ladder” can be traced back to the Old English word “hlæder” which roughly translated means “something that slopes”. It is estimated that ladders as we know them have been in use for over 10,000 years. Cave paintings from the Mesolithic era in the Spider Caves in Valencia, Spain were discovered picturing two people with a long, rickety ladder, thought to be made out of woven grass, heading towards a tree with a bees nest in it, in order to collect some honey. As time moved on and tools progressed, we begin to see examples of wooden ladders and in medieval times these were used to help storm a castle. John Basely from Ohio invented the step ladder in 1862; he put a hinge in between two ladder sides to enable it to be stored more easily. Now, step ladders have stays which assure that the two parts remain at a locked angle.

The Mr Versatile of the decorative world.