ANCIENT SEATING FURNITURE — HOUGH 616 



1-2.) A well-finished hardwood stool from Tahiti indicates that 

 tlie Polynesians of this island had advanced to the use of seating 

 furniture. (PI. IT.) 



Otherwise anion*; the Polynesians the only example noted is a 

 4-legged stool from Hawaii illustrated in the Edge-Partinj^ton and 

 Heape Album. The seat is practically absent in the islands of the 

 Pacific. 



The simpler forms of seating furniture were widespread in 

 Europe. Not until the seventeenth century did chairs become usual. 

 Until the middle of the sixteenth century a chair in the hall or in 

 the master's chamber was the rule and was '' the chair," hence chair- 

 man for presiding otiicer. Others sat on benches or movable forms. 

 Benches and chests formed the basis of the interesting development 

 of household furniture in Europe. This subject has been excellently 

 treated by H. Cliti'ord Smith. ^^ The ancient stool was also connnon 

 in the folk furniture of Europe, but it was always joined. It is said 

 that an inventory of 1G24 at Gilling Castle, Yorkshire, mentions only 

 two chairs, but lists 35 stools. Also, in 16G9, when Charles II enter- 

 tained the Grand Duke of Tuscany at dinner, the only chair was 

 provided for the guest of honor. 



In the ancient centers of civilization something may be recov- 

 ered of the manner of seating furniture used. Monuments give in 

 some cases abundant data. The statue of Gudea, about 2500 B. C, 

 shows this king seated on a stool having four feet. The pairs of 

 legs at the ends are pierced, giving them somewhat the form of 

 the capital letter A. Upon these rests the seat. The ends were 

 probably cut from a single slab of wood and the seat joined on by a 

 mortise. (PI. 18.) On the monument of Hammurabi, 2267-2213 

 B. C, at Susa is represented that king before the sun god, Sammas. 

 The sun god is seated on a low chair throne which seems to be 

 joined work of slats of wood symmetrically arranged, as seen in 

 the quadrangular panel at the side of the throne presented in the 

 relief. (PI. 19.) A more elaborate seat and other remarkably de- 

 signed furniture is seen in a votive tablet from Sippur, Mesapotamia. 

 (PI. 20.) The explorations of Doctor Woolley at Ur bring to light 

 a similar scene of about 2700 B. C, showing a figure seated in a 

 joined chair with rungs, cushion, and back. This chair is of superior 

 design and workmanship and is to all intents and purposes a modern 

 piece of furniture.'* (PI. 21.) 



Furniture, it appears, reached its greatest development of ancient 

 times in Egypt. For variety, taste, and cabinetmaker's skill, the 



"Catalogue of English furniture and woodwork. Vol. 1, Gothic and Early Tudor. 

 Publication of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1923. 

 "Museum Journal, vol. 1.'0, No. 1. p. US. Philadelphia, 1929. 



