Studio: international art (33.1905)

Ancient Chairs

lateral being in the centre. Below to the left, on
horseback, is the herald, blowing his horn, and
facing him a warrior also on horseback. These two
figures are separated by the grotesque head of a
man bearing leaf-shaped horns surmounted by a
cross. Below the balustrade which supports this
bar is an X design with traceries between the
cross-bars. According to the newest publica-
tions of Northern scholars who have given
much thought to this special chair, which is
in an excellent state of preservation, it can-
not be earlier than the fourteenth century,
and may possibly be of the fifteenth. Du

CHAIR RENAISSANCE PERIOD

Chaillu, in his " Viking Age" where this par-
ticular chair is reproduced, antedates it, being
misled by the Roman-archaic character of the
construction and the ornament. In any case,
this is one of the rarest specimens in exist-
ence. The footstool attached was added later.
The chair on the left of page 334 may have been
a Pope's stool, for Raphael has painted a portrait
of Pope Julius VI. seated on such a throne.
The stool reproduced has the original leather
mountings, and dates from the early sixteenth
century. The lower one on page 333 is from France.

338

SPANISH CHAIR E\RLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY

The carving is very rich and delicate, and repre-
sents the grape and leaf of the vine. The motive
is continued on the supports of the chair. The
bossed rosettes above the back and the trellis work
below are done by a sure hand. The chair tells its
tale, health and goodwill, for it was destined for
the use of honoured guests.

CHILD'S CHAIR

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY