"Bastard" Windsor Chair c. 1939

Magnus S. Fossum crafted this “Bastard” Windsor Chair; a watercolor and graphite rendering with an intriguing title that hints at the chair’s design. The spindles recall the classical columns of ancient Greece, symbols of order and support, here repurposed in vernacular form. The very act of sitting—something we’ve done since the dawn of civilization—takes center stage. Consider the throne, a seat of power since ancient Egypt, or the simple stools found in Roman frescoes. Each carries the weight of history, whispering tales of authority, domesticity, and the human need for rest. There’s something deeply satisfying about the chair's simple form, a primal connection to our ancestors. We are drawn to its familiar shape; an archetype residing within our collective memory. The chair offers a visual anchor, a place to pause and contemplate the enduring legacy of form and function. A chair is never just a chair. It is a symbol that continues its journey through time.