established 1942
Roman iron folding stool or ‘sella castrensis’ for a field commander Roman iron folding stool or ‘sella castrensis’ for a field commander
Roman iron folding stool or ‘sella castrensis’ for a field commander
ROMAN IRON FOLDING STOOL OR ‘SELLA CASTRENSIS’ FOR A FIELD COMMANDER

The X-form frame with bronze hinge finials and traces of ornamental brass and silver inlay on the horizontal supports.
Rare.
The richly decorated folding chair is a part of the tradition of ancient Italic command insignia. Such chairs, called "sella" were already used as symbols of status and command at the time of the Etruscans and in the early Roman period. During the Roman Republican and Imperial periods, the folding chair, the so-called "Curulian Chair", together with the fasces, were the essential insignia of consuls, praetors, censors, and aediles. The iron field chair, the so-called "sella castrensis" was particularly common for military authority and essentially reserved for commanders in the field.

Ex private German collection.

2nd-3rd Century AD

H. 17 5/8 in. (45 cm.)

Art of the Ancient World, 2006, no. 71
GMP22
$27,500


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