Two chairs 1828

Here is the tale of one of the two chairs made by Pierre Félix van Doren. Observe the emblem emblazoned on its back. What appears to be a stylized gate crowned with a peculiar symbol is in fact a coded family crest. Such insignia, rooted in the medieval heraldic tradition, served as visual shorthand for lineage, honor, and identity. But it is not confined to the realm of nobility; rather it speaks to the human need for belonging and marking one’s place in the world. Think about the recurrence of similar symbols in ancient Egyptian cartouches, medieval guilds, or even modern-day corporate logos. The chair is not merely a seat. It is a silent witness to conversations, decisions, and histories that unfold in domestic spaces. Each time someone sat here, they reaffirmed its symbolic role in their lives. It is a vessel of countless untold stories, where family and personal histories converge.