Robing Room Chair of State

The chair of state in the sovereigns robing room was one of the last important pieces of furniture to be supplied to the New Palace of Westminster. It is mentioned in a letter dated March 1869 from E.M. Barry (Charles Barry's son) to the furniture maker Crace regarding the gilding of the throne. It appears that Crace did gild parts of the throne but perhaps did not make the whole item. E.M. Barry probably designed the throne and seems to have taken inspiration from the chairs of state in the House of Lords Chamber and Napoleon's throne at Fontainebleau outside Paris, who tended to favour round backed chairs.