Please Be Seated: A Social History of the Chair October 22, 2006

The chair is the most ubiquitous piece of furniture in the modern home. Yet, the history of this familiar seating form is richer and more complex than might be first assumed. Its various forms and ornaments reveal changing political and cultural trends. Its materials and production techniques reflect economic trade and scientific invention. This slide-illustrated lecture will explore the history of the chair from ancient Egypt through the 20th century