Chest chair – a medieval chair model

Chest chairs are known to have been used in Central Europe since the early Middle Ages. The chair model was useful in a profession that required changing places. There is a lockable storage compartment under the seat for carrying your things with you. The chest of this chair was last used for storing shoes and hay for shoes. The chair comes from Ylitornio. It is decorated with braid carvings and painted decorations in yellow, red and blue. These decorations are typical of furniture from the Torne River Valley. Inside the lid is the year 1830 and the initials EMD.

Photo: Matti Kilponen, 2021.