Replica of King Tutankhamen’s Throne, pre-1980s
The chair may be gold in color but it is not real gold. This chair was made as a replica piece for Irving Gilmore, and was used on display in the Gilmore Brothers Department Store in the 20th century. The original throne was found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 by Sir Howard Carter. While Tutankhamen ruled during the 18th Dynasty, 1336-1327 BCE, the discovery of his burial site full of thousands of grave goods brought international name recognition.
The original throne was made of gilded wood, colored glass, carnelian and other semi-precious gemstones. The back of the chair shows Tutankhamen and his wife, Ankhesenamun. At the center is a sun with rays shining down, representing the religious change instituted by his father, Akhenaten, requiring that Egyptians worship one god, the sun, called Aten. Tutankhamen lived and died over 1,000 years before the mummy in the KVM’s collection did— find out more on her story in the 3rd floor gallery exhibit.
Object #80.347