Armchair of Queen Hetepheres I.

The seat and the backrest of this chair are made of natural wood. They are surrounded by a simple wooden frame covered with gold leaf with high arms in gilded wood. The backrest of the chair is reinforced at the rear by a central support. 

The space between the arms, the seat, and the backrest is decorated with an elegant floral design, the dominant decorative element of the armchair. The floral design is composed of three papyrus flowers whose stems are tied with a band.

The front legs are shaped like lions’ paws, based on the ancient concept of protection given by lions. The front pair is taller than the rear pair so that the seat inclines slightly toward the rear.

The old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, ca. 2613-2494 BC. From the Mastaba of Hetepheres I, G 7000X near the Great Pyramid of Giza. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.