Difference between revisions of "Stools, Benches & Chairs"
From The Viking Age Compendium
m (→References) |
m |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Stars1|Category=Crafts}} | {{Stars1|Category=Crafts}} | ||
| − | Luxury chairs were signs of wealth and status. For most normal people seating consisted of sitting on the ground, on raised earth benches or small stools [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.561]. <br> | + | Luxury chairs were signs of wealth and status. For most normal people seating consisted of sitting on the ground, on raised earth benches or small stools [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.561]. <br> |
==Stools and Benches== | ==Stools and Benches== | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
===Wooden 3 legged stool === | ===Wooden 3 legged stool === | ||
Some have D-shaped holes in the centre of the seat that would have served as handholds for lifting the stools (Winchester, Dublin). | Some have D-shaped holes in the centre of the seat that would have served as handholds for lifting the stools (Winchester, Dublin). | ||
| − | *Lund, Sweden. Beech, L.17.5cm, 1000-1050AD [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.79] | + | *Lund, Sweden. Beech, L.17.5cm, 1000-1050AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.79] |
| − | *York cat.8946. Burrwood AD 930-975 [ | + | *York cat.8946. Burrwood AD 930-975 [MORRIS 2000] |
| − | *York cat. 8947. Oak AD 975-1050 [ | + | *York cat. 8947. Oak AD 975-1050 [MORRIS 2000] |
| − | *York cat. 8948. Oak mid C14th – late C15th [ | + | *York cat. 8948. Oak mid C14th – late C15th [MORRIS 2000] |
| − | *Winchester AD 900-950 [ | + | *Winchester AD 900-950 [MORRIS 2000: p.2304] |
| − | *Fishamble St. C11th [ | + | *Fishamble St. C11th [MORRIS 2000: p.2304] |
<br> | <br> | ||
===Wooden 4 legged stool=== | ===Wooden 4 legged stool=== | ||
*Hedeby, AD 850-1066 Oak, 29.6 x 20.6cm and 2.1cm thick. Leg holes are 2.6cm in diameter and the oak legs where wedged. The complete height was 19.5cm [WESTPHAL 2006: p.87] | *Hedeby, AD 850-1066 Oak, 29.6 x 20.6cm and 2.1cm thick. Leg holes are 2.6cm in diameter and the oak legs where wedged. The complete height was 19.5cm [WESTPHAL 2006: p.87] | ||
| − | *Dublin, [ | + | *Dublin, [MORRIS 2000: p.2304)] |
<br> | <br> | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
*Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW73. | *Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW73. | ||
*Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW74. | *Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW74. | ||
| − | *Hemsedal Church, Norway. L.130cm, AD 1200 ( | + | *Hemsedal Church, Norway. L.130cm, AD 1200 (ROESDHAL & WILSON: cat.459) |
<br> | <br> | ||
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
===Wooden ‘Box’ style chair=== | ===Wooden ‘Box’ style chair=== | ||
A unique find from the Viking Age although there are other examples from the later Medieval Age. | A unique find from the Viking Age although there are other examples from the later Medieval Age. | ||
| − | *Oseberg, Norway. Beech, H.67cm, 800-850AD [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.163] | + | *Oseberg, Norway. Beech, H.67cm, 800-850AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.163] |
| − | *Lewis Chessman, 8 kings (out of 8), 8 queens (out of 8), 7 Bishops (out of 16). Walrus ivory [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.615] [ROBINSON 2004] | + | *Lewis Chessman, 8 kings (out of 8), 8 queens (out of 8), 7 Bishops (out of 16). Walrus ivory [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.615] [ROBINSON 2004] |
<br> | <br> | ||
===Throne=== | ===Throne=== | ||
These are the same as the wooden ‘box’ style chairs, except that they are more ornate with carved arms and backs. | These are the same as the wooden ‘box’ style chairs, except that they are more ornate with carved arms and backs. | ||
| − | *Hedeby Silver pendant [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.187] | + | *Hedeby Silver pendant [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.187] |
*Dublin DW12 – Chair terminal? | *Dublin DW12 – Chair terminal? | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| Line 49: | Line 49: | ||
===Wooden ‘backed’ chair=== | ===Wooden ‘backed’ chair=== | ||
This is from a unique C11th find in southern Sweden. Chairs like this can only be used after 980AD and may only be used by members portraying RICH characters. | This is from a unique C11th find in southern Sweden. Chairs like this can only be used after 980AD and may only be used by members portraying RICH characters. | ||
| − | *Lund, Sweden 1000-1050AD [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.561] | + | *Lund, Sweden 1000-1050AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.561] |
| − | *Tyldal church, Norway 1150-1200AD [ROESDAHL 1992: cat.457] | + | *Tyldal church, Norway 1150-1200AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.457] |
Earlier finds are from Oberflacht (AD C6th-C7th) and a boys grave in the Cologne Cathedral (AD 540) [WESTPHAL 2006]. | Earlier finds are from Oberflacht (AD C6th-C7th) and a boys grave in the Cologne Cathedral (AD 540) [WESTPHAL 2006]. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| Line 66: | Line 66: | ||
===Wooden 'simple' folding stool === | ===Wooden 'simple' folding stool === | ||
| − | Made from straight bits of wood. In Roman times they sat in them with the cross bar to the front and back [CROOM | + | Made from straight bits of wood. In Roman times they sat in them with the cross bar to the front and back [CROOM 2000:p.102] |
<br> | <br> | ||
| Line 76: | Line 76: | ||
*Frykat pendant | *Frykat pendant | ||
*Bjorko pendant | *Bjorko pendant | ||
| − | *Lund, Sweden. Ivory figure, C11th. ( | + | *Lund, Sweden. Ivory figure, C11th. (ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.602) |
| Line 82: | Line 82: | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
| − | {{Ref|Croom | + | {{Ref|Croom 2000}} |
{{Ref|Grieg 1928}} | {{Ref|Grieg 1928}} | ||
{{Ref|Hirst 2004}} | {{Ref|Hirst 2004}} | ||
Revision as of 17:02, 28 September 2015
| Stools, Benches & Chairs |
|---|
|
|
More Crafts pages
Luxury chairs were signs of wealth and status. For most normal people seating consisted of sitting on the ground, on raised earth benches or small stools [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.561.
Stools and Benches
These rudimentary seats would have been all that was available for most people in Regia’s period.
Wooden 3 legged stool
Some have D-shaped holes in the centre of the seat that would have served as handholds for lifting the stools (Winchester, Dublin).
- Lund, Sweden. Beech, L.17.5cm, 1000-1050AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.79
- York cat.8946. Burrwood AD 930-975 [MORRIS 2000]
- York cat. 8947. Oak AD 975-1050 [MORRIS 2000]
- York cat. 8948. Oak mid C14th – late C15th [MORRIS 2000]
- Winchester AD 900-950 [MORRIS 2000]:p.2304
- Fishamble St. C11th [MORRIS 2000]:p.2304
Wooden 4 legged stool
- Hedeby, AD 850-1066 Oak, 29.6 x 20.6cm and 2.1cm thick. Leg holes are 2.6cm in diameter and the oak legs where wedged. The complete height was 19.5cm [WESTPHAL 2006]:p.87
- Dublin, [MORRIS 2000]:p.2304)
Wooden 4 legged bench
All of these benches have been interpreted as both seats and tables. Working marks in the wood
- Sala Hytta (although probably a low table)
- Oseberg c.AD 840 Oak, 92.5cm x 33cm. The legs are of a softer wood and are 28.5cm long.[GRIEG 1928 p.167]
- Dublin
Wooden jointed bench
- Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW39. late C11th,
- Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW73.
- Dublin, Ireland. Cat. DW74.
- Hemsedal Church, Norway. L.130cm, AD 1200 (ROESDHAL & WILSON: cat.459)
Chairs and Thrones
Wooden ‘Box’ style chair
A unique find from the Viking Age although there are other examples from the later Medieval Age.
- Oseberg, Norway. Beech, H.67cm, 800-850AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.163
- Lewis Chessman, 8 kings (out of 8), 8 queens (out of 8), 7 Bishops (out of 16). Walrus ivory [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.615 [ROBINSON 2004]
Throne
These are the same as the wooden ‘box’ style chairs, except that they are more ornate with carved arms and backs.
- Hedeby Silver pendant [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.187
- Dublin DW12 – Chair terminal?
Wooden ‘backed’ chair
This is from a unique C11th find in southern Sweden. Chairs like this can only be used after 980AD and may only be used by members portraying RICH characters.
- Lund, Sweden 1000-1050AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.561
- Tyldal church, Norway 1150-1200AD [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:cat.457
Earlier finds are from Oberflacht (AD C6th-C7th) and a boys grave in the Cologne Cathedral (AD 540) [WESTPHAL 2006].
Folding Chairs
Folding chairs are known from both Egypt and Rome and seem to have continued through the ages. A problem we face is understanding the subtexts from the Viking Age. In Roman times folding chairs were used to symbolise power and this may still have been the case in the Viking Age.
BL-TCVI-f017v King David
Wooden ‘Curule’ folding stool
These are considered to be high status items similar to the Roman ‘Curule’ which were a symbol of political or warrior power. Historically they were often used by leaders when passing judgement. They have distinctive curved legs.
- Dagobert's Throne, France, late 8th-9th century
- Manuscript Images
Wooden 'simple' folding stool
Made from straight bits of wood. In Roman times they sat in them with the cross bar to the front and back [CROOM 2000]:p.102
Iron framed folding stool
- Prittlewell Prince, England. C7th. [HIRST 2004]
Log chair
Chairs with low backs made carved from a single log seem to be a Scandinavian innovation.
- Frykat pendant
- Bjorko pendant
- Lund, Sweden. Ivory figure, C11th. (ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992: cat.602)
References
Grieg, Sigurd (1928) Osebergfundet Vol II. [GRIEG 1928] *
Hirst, Sue (2004) The Prittlewell Prince. The Discovery of a rich Anglo-Saxon burial in Essex. [HIRST 2004] ^ *
Morris, Carole (2000) Wood and Woodworking in Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York. York Archaeological Trust: 17/13 [MORRIS 2000] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 6 *
