10 Downing Street Guard Chairs

Set of antique chairs May 2020 thumb|right|One of the original chairs The 10 Downing Street Guard Chairs are two antique porter's chairs.Take a Seat! History's Most Intriguing Chairs https://rauantiques.com/blogs/canvases-carats-and-curiosities/antique-chairs In the early 19th century, 10 Downing Street was guarded by two men who sat outside the building in leather chairs made by Thomas Chippendale. There was a drawer underneath the chair which was filled with hot coals to keep the guards warm whilst on duty.Inside Number Ten: A guided tour https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/inside-number-ten-a-guided-tour-455036.html The Independent 9 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20110408075758/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/inside-number-ten-a-guided-tour-455036.html 8 April 2011 28 June 2007 dead The chairs were hood chairs, made with a circular back and hood, both to shield the guards from bad weather and to improve the surrounding acoustics, thereby allowing the guard to hear better from a wider angle. Current state The chairs still exist. One of them (also known as the Hall Porter's ChairOctober 2022) stands in the entrance to 10 Downing Street; the other is owned by a private collector of furniture. The fraying of the inner arm rests evident in the accompanying picture is the result of the guards' pistols repeatedly rubbing against the fabric during their watch. References External links Official 3D Tour of 10 Downing Street Category:19th-century works Category:10 Downing Street Category:Chairs Category:Individual chairs Category:English furniture