Curule (Folding) Chair
Unknown Artist
c. 1450–1500
Medium
forged iron
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":1.067,"width":0.635,"depth":0.546}}
Classification
Furniture and woodwork
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1949.201
About this artwork
This is a rare example of a Renaissance folding chair. It was intended to be lightweight and easily portable so that it could be folded and transported from room to room or even house to house. They were likely used in Italian homes, though they may have also been favored by scholars and clerics for use in their studies. Their portability also made them useful for extended travel. The fabric is a modern replacement.