Exhibition from June 3, 2013 through July 26, 2013. Chairs were in existence since the Early Dynasty Period in Egypt (3100 – 2686 BCE) and in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). It was not until the 16th century that the chair became common. Prior to that time, the chest, the bench and the stool were the ordinary seats. In Europe, it was during the Renaissance period that the chair ceased to be a privilege and became a standard item of furniture for anyone who could afford to purchase them. Once the idea of privilege faded, the chair came into general use. The chair began to change every few years to reflect the fashions of the times. In the 1880’s, chairs became more common in America and typically there was a chair provided for every family member to sit down to dinner.

This show featured ten chairs from The Drexel Collection exploring the history of the chair and the design changes from century to century and country to country.