ROYAL MEMORABILIA/ INVESTITURE CHAIR: An original chair used during the Prince of Wales Investiture ceremony in 1969.

This chair was designed by Anthony Armstrong-Jones – 1st Earl of Snowdon, Carl Toms (1927-1999) and John Pound (Ministry of Works) and manufactured by Remploy. The chair is in red stained ash laminate plywood and red painted elm, with large gilt Prince of Wales feathers motif impressed to backrest, bearing motto ICH DIEN (I Serve), with original tweed seat cover, bearing Remploy stamp under seat.

Dimensions overall height 78cm x depth 55cm x width 55cm

Condition report: We have recently had the chair re-foamed to comply with modern standards. The fabric is the original chair fabric (slightly faded) The chair is in overall good condition, some surface knocks, paint loss and scratches. Losses visible to ends of armrests and black spots to arms, scratch visible to almost entire length of front chair rail, painted restoration to chips and losses on lower legs, some small paint flecks visible to chair back (see images).

The Investiture Ceremony, 1969

The Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle, North Wales on 1st July 1969. Lord Snowdon along with designer Carl Toms and John Pound were responsible for the Investiture ceremony design. Given a tiny budget of only £50,000 the team were to design a set, within the Castle itself with the intention of creating an event steeped in Royal history whilst being contemporary and appealing to modern television audiences.

The design for the chair itself in bright vermillion red, was part of a theatrical look for the entire event. All 4,600 chairs produced for the ceremony were assembled at Remploy (an organization which employed a disabled workforce in a welfare to work scheme). The original fabric seat cover was made of Welsh tweed. Chairs were available for guest to purchase after the event for £12 (which helped pay for the occasion).

A pair of Investiture chairs previously owned by Lord Snowdon sold at Christies Auctioneers, London in September 2020 for £43,700.

Further pieces of related furniture are available in our store see ROYAL MEMORABILIA: An original HM Elizabeth II Coronation Chair, 1953

To see British Pathe highlights of the ceremony and His Majesty King Charles III discussing it see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb68uewyYmM

Dimensions: Height 78cm x depth 55cm x width 55cm

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Shipping: Price includes free insured shipping to a UK address. If you are based outside of the UK please email us directly for a cost price shipping quote.

Condition Report: We have recently had the chair re-foamed to comply with modern standards. The fabric is the original chair fabric (slightly faded) The chair is in overall good condition, some surface knocks, paint loss and scratches. Losses visible to ends of armrests and black spots to arms, scratch visible to almost entire length of front chair rail, painted restoration to chips and losses on lower legs, some small paint flecks visible to chair back (see images).