Since the coronation of Charles III is tomorrow, here is an edited repost:
Commissioned in 1296, the Coronation Chair in St George’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous and valuable pieces of furniture in the world.
It has been the centerpiece of coronations for over 700 years.
The chair is the oldest dated piece of English furniture made by a known artist (Walter of Durham). Carved from oak between 1297 and 1300, it was made to enclose the famous Stone of Scone. Since the 14th century, with the exception of Queen Mary II, all crowned English and British monarchs have been seated in the chair at the moment of coronation. Traces are still visible of the original gilded, painted, and inlaid glass mosaics. The four gilt lions at the bottom were made in 1727 to replace the originals, which were added in the early 16th century. The Stone was originally enclosed under the seat. Tradition identifies it with the stone upon which Jacob rested his head.
“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it”
Genesis 28, v 18.
Jacob’s sons carried it to Egypt. Next, It passed to Spain. About 700 BC, it landed in Ireland, placed upon the sacred Hill of Tara. Legend proclaims that at coronations, when Irish kings were seated on it, the Stone groaned if the claimant was a true royal but remained silent if he was a pretender.
The Stone was stolen by Scottish Nationalists on Christmas, 1950! After its recovery 4 months later, it was kept in the same vault where it had been during World War II. The stone was not replaced until February 1952, after elaborate precautions had been taken. It was recovered in time for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
In 1996 the stone was returned to Scotland, kept in Edinburgh Castle, provided it be returned to England for use at coronations. It is due to be moved in 2024 to a new exhibition site in Perth, Scotland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjDFPqfpVM0
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/about-the-abbey/history/the-coronation-chair
