This is a primitive work bench/chair used during the 19th century to make or repair shoes.
The front wooden block terminates with a metal ring and has a hole on top where an iron shoe last would have been fitted to allow the cobbler to work on the shoe.
It is a very fascinating handmade object which shows old signs of woodworms but we have treated it just for extra peace of mind.
As it is easy to imagine, rarely these types of tools survive the inevitable wear and that’s why they are extremely fascinating and they actually look very stylish in smart or modern interiors.