What is a coffin stool?

The term refers to an early oak joint stool. They were everyday seating for ordinary homes, not made for funerals.

I have an old wooden seat with three legs that taper at the bottom, why did they make it like this?

Three legs guarantee a wobble-free seat on an uneven surface. Four legs require a flat floor, which most historic country cottages lacked. Cobblers and dairy workers favoured this tripod form. It let them lean in any direction while working without tipping over.

How were early padded seats stuffed?

Horsehair was the premium choice. Upholsterers curled and baked the tail hair to give it a lasting spring that held its shape under pressure. Cheaper seating used whatever was local and affordable. Straw, dried moss and cow hair often filled the cushions in rural areas.

Some antique stools have a thick wooden rail near the floor on three sides but nothing on the front, what is that?

You are looking at a spinner's or weaver's stool. The missing front stretcher leaves empty space near the floor for a specific reason. This open design gave the worker room to operate foot pedals. A front rail would have blocked their ankles and made long shifts in the cottage industries uncomfortable. Many of these feature a slightly tilted seat too. It pitched the user forward toward the loom or spinning wheel to save them from straining their back over a long day.

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Antique Stools from the 19th Century

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Antique stools are versatile, backless forms of seating, originally built for everyday tasks and found in everything from humble taverns to grand drawing rooms.