Side Chair 17th century

This Side Chair, crafted by an anonymous hand, presents familiar motifs that resonate across time. Note the verticality and the repeated horizontal elements on the chair back, capped with knob-like finials, suggestive of a ladder. This form echoes the visual language of religious ladders, such as Jacob's Ladder, symbolizing ascent and connection between the earthly and the divine. Such forms recur in various guises throughout history. Think of the repeated tiers of ziggurats, or the rungs of a ceremonial ladder in ancient rituals. The chair’s ladder back, however, is not about spiritual elevation but earthly use, a place for rest. Yet, the subconscious mind recognizes the familiar pattern, creating a sense of order and hierarchy. The humble chair becomes a stage where utility meets latent symbolic memory, a reminder that even the most mundane objects can carry echoes of our shared cultural past.