Savonarola Chair questions

Jonathan Baird · Post by **Jonathan Baird** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:39 pm

I found one of these chairs at a yard sale this morning. Went ahead and bought it for 75 dollars just because I thought it would make a good camp chair and it was in really great shape. I thought at first this thing was a chair some scadian had built twenty years ago. However the more I look at it the older it seems. It has mother of pearl inlays and is very similar to antique folding syrian chairs i have seen online. I'll post pics in the morning but I would like to find out more about the chair age etc if i can.

Jonathan Baird · Post by **Jonathan Baird** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:09 am

Sasha_Khan · Post by **Sasha_Khan** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:23 am

Chairs like this are pretty common from Egypt - and I know that I saw some at an Egyptian importer of furniture and such in Seattle a few years ago.

You got a good price - especially if the chair is solid.

Gerhard von Liebau · Post by **Gerhard von Liebau** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:56 am

Looks like a traditional folding chair imported from the Middle East. I've been into a few Pakistani and Afghan import shops here in San Francisco and seeing these chairs with matching folding tables being sold as sets is common - including the inlay stye yours shows.

As far as authenticity for SCA events, these chairs were popular in the ancient Mediterranean world and were re-popularized in Europe during the Italian Renaissance. They'd be acceptable for most late 15th-16th century camp setups.

-Gerhard

Gwynnin · Post by **Gwynnin** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:03 am

There's also quite a few that look more or less just like that for sale in Florence and Rome. Obviously modern ones like you posted. See them in shop windows occasionally.

Kel Rekuta · Post by **Kel Rekuta** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:04 am

I saw a lot of them in Spanish museums, castles and also local imported furniture shops in the cities. A good design remains popular.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:17 am

What makes them stick out as being Near/middle eastern is the inlay.

I'd use one with no problem, however. I think they would work best for Southern Europe, if you are being nit-picky.

zippy · Post by **zippy** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:49 pm

looks really nice
and at 75 bucks seems like a good deal
(i am looking for some if anyone finds them cheaper)

sha-ul · Post by **sha-ul** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:58 am

ooooooh pretty....