As Jason began the cutting for the Tuam, I began work on a very ancient style of travelling throne used by the Roman magistrates. I’ve not researched it closely, but I have read in a few places that this style of folding chair, in the shape of an X, was allowed only for high Roman officials. Even after the Roman empire collapsed, those territories that were affected by the romans still considered the X chair as a sign of power. There were many many variants over the centuries, and the X chair evolved farther and farther from its roots. If you’re bored, look up a savonarolla, or a dantesca or the throne of the franc king, Dagobert.

I am told that even today, X-shaped chairs are reserved for Catholic bishops, and that they actually use Faldistoriums in ritual, though I do not know if this is true. My idea, however, was an interpretation. Say, not long after Rome retreated from the British Isles and Hadrian’s wall was overrun. What kind of throne might a Celtic warlord have made? How would he have re-imaged a Roman Faldistorium? So, I made this -

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