George Washington Rising Sun Chair
The rising sun chair remained in the custody of the pennsylvania state legislature until 1872 when frank etting the chairman of philadelphia s centennial committee and two former state governors negotiated the chair s return to independence hall.
George washington rising sun chair. Rising sun armchair george washington used this chair for nearly three months of the federal convention s continuous sessions. The original chair where george washington sat during the deliberations and the signing of the constitution in 1789. The chair was also referred to as the oriental chair of king solomon mackey notes the relatively rare expression of passing the chair which was a special. Of the rising and setting sun chair.
This is the rising sun chair that george washington used during the constitutional convention. James madison reported benjamin franklin saying i have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. Benjamin franklin remarked that the sun carved into the head of the chair was rising much like the nation under the new constitution. Benjamin franklin after the signing stated that he had often looked.
The rising sun armchair was used by general george washington during the deliberations and signing of the u s. The rising sun armchair. The master the presiding officer rising from the chair in the east being emblematic of the rising sun to open and govern his lodge. James madison reported benjamin franklin saying i have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting.
Since then the chair has been a focal point of many exhibits in the hall s assembly room. Over the years the rising sun chair has undergone. Revisiting american history and the writings of our founding fathers i was struck by their relevancy. In 1787 at a constitutional convention benjamin franklin was waiting to sign a document that would hold the fate and destiny of our nation.
Know that it is a rising sun. When george washington presided over the 1787 convention that brought about the constitution he sat in a chair designed by philadelphia furniture maker john folwell. H 153 5 w 77 5 d. George washington s master s chair and his masonic aprons by frater james a.
The sun s ambiguity seemed to stand for the uncertain outcome of the debates. Marples vii ยบ. As he stood his eyes fell upon a carving on the back of george washington s chair a carving of half a sun. Rising sun armchair and detail 1779 made by john folwell george washington used this chair for nearly three months of the federal convention s continuous sessions.
He stared thoughtfully at it for a minute then proclaimed words that would be remembered.