Chair From 1979 Tynwald Ceremony
Date made: 1979
Maker: Remploy
Description: This chair was one of those used by guests and dignitaries at the 1979 Tynwald ceremony at St Johns. It was one of a large number made for this event, and although this example was donated by the Isle of Man Government Office, some were retained by guests as personal mementos of the occasion. It was made by Remploy, the organisation which helps disabled ex-servicemen to find work.
The chair is made from laminated sheets of softwood. The back is decorated with an embossed gold coloured Viking ship, the symbol of Tynwald. It also carries an individual number - this is no 1, used by the Lieutenant Governor.
The 1979 Tynwald ceremony was an important event, marking as it did the Millennium of the institution which is believed to have been established by the Vikings. The earliest known reference to it comes in 979. The Lord of Man is usually represented by the Lieutentant Governor, but in 1979 to mark the significance of the date, the ceremony was presided over by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as Lord. The institution of Tynwald Court is widely seen as the most significant legacy of the Vikings, and the Isle of Man can claim to have the oldest continuous parliament in the world.
Measurements: overall: 940 x 665 x 485 mm
Materials: wood
Object name: chair
Collection: Furniture Collection
ID Number: 1979-0076