Five-spindle Inlaid Bench

Sitting down, and what we sit on, is kind of a big thing. We all do it every day in a multitude of settings and for a wide range of reasons. Some of my most pleasant times have been sitting under a tree or on a grassy hillside with nothing more separating my behind from the earth than a layer of denim. Not surprisingly, like many guys my age and in similar circumstances, I have “my chair” in my home. It is where you will find me regularly reading a book, scanning the Internet or simply caught up in deep thoughts. (What if the hokey pokey is really what it’s all about?)

But chairs, benches and other sorts of seating are more than just utilitarian. Over time, they have come to represent statuses from elevated to humble, societal roles or cultural conventions. If I were to invite you into my house and you chose to sit in my preferred chair, I