Chairs and Thrones




The Golden Throne

This magnificent golden throne is, in Lord Carnavon's words, "one of the most marvellous pieces of furniture ever to be discovered".
It was found beneath the hippopotamus couch in the Antechamber, wrapped in a length of black linen. The throne is 104 cm
high, and is carved out of wood. It has been overlaid with sheets of gold and silver, and is decorated with coloured glass,
faience, glazed terracotta, calcite and semi-precious stones. The legs of the chair have been carved into the form
of lion’s legs, and are surmounted by lion’s heads. The openwork side panels of the chair are in the form of a winged serpent,
wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. The king’s name has also been carved into the wood of the side panels.
The back of the throne is decorated with two more winged serpents. The most stunning part of the chair is the back panel,
which shows a scene of Tutankhamun, and his queen Ankhesenamun. They are pictured in relaxed and affectionate poses, which
clearly shows the influence of the Amarna style of art and culture. The king is seated on his throne in a graceful reclining
pose, while Ankhesenamun anoints Tutankhamun’s collar with perfume, which she carries in a perfume bowl in her other
hand. Ankhesenamun wears a long pleated dress, and Tutankhamun a pleated kilt. Both wear golden sandals, bracelets and wide, jewelled
collars. The queen’s head is adorned by two tall plumes and the sun disk, while Tutankhamun wears the Atef crown. On the
right, behind the queen, on a wooden stand, we see a gold and jewelled necklace similar to those worn by the monarchs.
The sun disk shines over the royal couple, blessing them with its rays. The sun disc has been depicted in the style
of Amarna, as the Aten, with hands at the ends of the rays. Some of these hands are holding the ankh, the symbol for life.
The names of the king and queen are inscribed behind their heads. The throne’s footrest is 63.5 cm long, and is constructed
of heavy wood. It was gilded and inlaid with blue faience and yellow stone. The design on the top surface shows three Nubians
and three Asiatics, and the message that these chieftains are of ‘all foreign lands [who] are under his (the king’s) feet’.
The king would have used this throne during formal state occasions and meetings.






Ebony Child's Chair

This fine chair, being only 71 cm high and 36 cm wide, was made for Tutankhamun as a child. It was made from African
ebony, and inlaid with ivory in simple geometric designs. The side panels of the chair are gilded, and are inlaid
with pictures of ibexes and desert plants. The legs of the chair have been, like the golden throne, carved in the form
of lion's legs. The claws of the lion's feet are made from ivory. The chair was assembled with mortise and tenon
joints, which are secured with bronze pins capped in gold. The seat of the chair is curved. The chair was discovered in
the Antechamber, along with a simple footrest which was also made from ebony.






Ceremonial Chair

This elegant chair, also found in the antechamber, was probably used by the king in a religious ceremony. It is 96cm high,
and was constructed from a reddish-coloured wood know as Cilician fir. Parts of the chair, such as the winged sun-disc
symbol at the top of the backrest and the wooden back bracers, were overlaid with gold foil. The legs of the chair are
again carved in the form of lion's legs, and the claws are made from ivory. Between the legs were carved open work 'sma-tawy'
motif, which were broken off and stolen by grave robbers, and were also covered in gold leaf. The seat of the chair, like
the child's chair, is slightly curved. The back of the chair shows the god of eternity, Heh, kneeling upon the heiroglyph
for gold, holding notched palm ribs in both hands and with the ankh over one of his arms. These symbols are intended to
convey the hope for a long and prosperous life. Also carved into the back panel are two hawks, both wearing the crown of
lower Egypt, and the names and titles of Tutankhamun. This chair was also discovered with a simple footstool.






Elaborate Folding Stool

This chair, often referred to as the 'Ecclesiastical Throne', was found in a corner of the Annexe wrapped up in strips
of linen. It is so richly decorated that it is often called a throne, but it is in fact a type of backed folding stool.
It is carved from ebony, gilded in parts, and inlaid with coloured glass, faience and semi precious stones, such
as lapis lazuli, carnelian and malachite. The sloping back, which is 1.02m high, contains three vertical columns of
heiroglyphics, which refer to the pharoah with his earlier name, Tutankhaten. The main inlaid cartouches also use
the -aten form of his name, however, a horizontal inscription at the top of the back carries the name Tutankhamun.
The goddess Nekhbet decorates the back of the throne, as does the Aten disc, at the very top. The seat is very curved, and
parts of it are decorated with imitations of animals skins, such as cheetah skin and the blotching markings of the skin
of the Nubian goat. The legs of the stool end in ducks heads. This throne was also found with a footrest, which is 58.7cm
long and inlaid with similar materials as the chair. The top surface is divided into two, each stacked horizontally
with alternating black and Asiatic bound captives, the traditional enemies of the Egyptians.






BACK