A conservator at London’s Westminster Abbey is carrying out meticulous restoration work on a fragile 700-year-old chair to ensure King Charles III can sit on it at his coronation in May.
The ancient throne, known as the Coronation Chair, has been at the centerpiece of English coronations for centuries, including those of Henry VIII, Charles I, Queen Victoria and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Westminster Abbey — where the ceremony will take place — describes the chair as “one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world” and says it is in “remarkable condition” given its age.
Nevertheless, it must still undergo some conservation work ahead of the ceremony to crown the King and Queen Consort on Saturday, May 6.
The oak chair is believed to have been crafted in about 1300, according to a statement from the abbey — which has hosted the coronations of 39 monarchs since 1066.
Edward I commissioned the 6.5-foot-high chair to house the Stone of Scone — also known as the Stone of Destiny — which he captured in 1296, along with the Scottish crown and scepter. The stone, which had been used as a seat in the coronation of Scottish kings for centuries, is now kept in Scotland but is reunited with the chair for British coronations.
Originally covered in gold leaf, the chair was also decorated with colored glass, as well as patterns of birds, foliage and a king painted by Edward I’s master painter.
The gilding features what is known as punchwork — tiny, intricate dots that create images and patterns.
Source: cnn.com
