Furniture Miniatures Faithful Replicas

Three splendid ritual couches, or funerary beds, were discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun. The sides of each, beautifully rendered, take the shape of a different animal: a lion, a cow, and a hippopotamus. The hieroglyphic texts inscribed on them suggest that these were not used by Tutankhamun in life, but after his death in funerary rituals that aided the deceased king in his journey from this life to the next.

The throne of Tutankhamun is one of the most exquisite pieces of furniture from ancient Egypt. Contrasting with the dazzling—even imposing—effect of the throne of the Pharaoh of Egypt, its backrest features a tender scene of the young king and his queen, Ankhesenamun, in an intimate domestic moment in which she is rubbing ointment on him.

This ceremonial chair testifies to the heights of skill reached by the ancient Egyptian craftsmen. It is made to look like a folding chair, but it was designed to not be closed. It is the workmanship of artifacts like these that have rightfully transformed Tutankhamun, a king who died at only around 18–20 years of age, into a household name.