The Westminster Abbey in London is restoring its 700-year-old Coronation Chair to prepare it for King Charles III’s coronation in May.
The chair, widely considered one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world, has been at the center of English coronations for centuries, including those of King Henry VIII, King Charles I, Queen Victoria, and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The oak chair, estimated to have been crafted around 1300, will be used to crown King Charles III and Queen Consort on May 6, 2023.
Krista Blessley, Abbey’s paintings conservator, performs a surface clean on the chair using sponges and cotton swabs to remove dirt and stabilize surviving layers of the gold leaf gilding on the chair and its base was updated in the 18th century.
The restoration work will preserve the historic decorative layers of the chair for future generations and will be entirely invisible, according to Abbey’s statement.
The chair has suffered some damage over its lifetime, including graffiti from the 18th and 19th centuries and a small corner knocked off by a bomb attack in 1914.
However, Blessley has discovered previously overlooked details in the chair’s decoration, including undiscovered toes in the punchwork gilding on the back of the chair, which she plans to investigate further.
Blessley has spent four months working on the chair and considers working on such an important piece of history a privilege.
Although the chair is not the oldest artifact involved in the ceremony, King Charles III will be anointed with holy oil from the silver-gilt coronation spoon, which dates back to the 12th century.
Despite the significance of the Coronation Chair, it remains in remarkable condition for its age, according to Westminster Abbey.
The chair was originally covered in gold leaf and decorated with coloured glass, birds, foliage, and a king painted by King Edward I’s, a master painter. The gilding features punchwork, which is tiny, intricate dots that create images and patterns.
The Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, which was captured by King Edward I in 1296 and used as a seat in the coronation of Scottish kings for centuries, will be housed in the chair during the coronation ceremony.
The coronation of King Charles III is expected to be a historical event, not just for the monarchy but for the entire country.
The Coronation Chair, one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world, will play a crucial role in the ceremony and will be a symbol of the continuity of England’s rich history and heritage.
The restoration work performed by Krista Blessley will ensure that the chair remains in pristine condition for future generations to admire and appreciate.
The restoration of the 700-year-old Coronation Chair is a testament to the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the significance of this artifact in England’s history.
The chair will play a crucial role in the coronation of King Charles III and will be a symbol of the country’s rich history and heritage for centuries to come.
