Sitting as a privilege

Collapsible stools are among the big rarities from the North European Bronze Age. So far, we only know of 16 examples, which were all excavated in the 19th century. Even though only the bronze and gold fittings, ornamental studs and jingle bobs have been preserved, they allow us to precisely reconstruct the wooden frame. This reconstruction shows the exact function and position of the original fittings (display 66) of the collapsible chair from the chieftain’s grave of Daensen. Only princes and chieftains were allowed such types of seating, which had the same function as thrones found in later times. The use of gold sheets for the ornamental fittings confirm the high rank of their owner. A comparable collapsible chair was found in the Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb.