Object Image

Curule (Folding) Chair

This is a rare example of a Renaissance folding chair. It was intended to be lightweight and easily portable so that it could be folded and transported from room to room or even house to house. They were likely used in Italian homes, though they may have also been favored by scholars and clerics for use in their studies. Their portability also made them useful for extended travel. The fabric is a modern replacement.

Credit: John L. Severance Fund...

c. 1450-1500
Forged iron
106.7 x 63.5 x 54.6 cm
1949.201
Image and text: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2024

Where you'll find this

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Permanent collection