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Sit Down and Be Amazed: Top 6 Fun Facts About Chairs You Never Knew!

illustration of chairs
Discover a world of fascinating trivia as you take a seat and explore these delightful fun facts about chairs that will surely surprise and amuse you!

1. JFK's Rocking White House

If rocking the boat isn't your style, how about rocking the White House? JFK sure knew a thing or two about it: President John F. Kennedy used custom-designed rocking chairs to help alleviate his chronic back pain, ensuring these soothing seats found their place in almost every room of the White House. In fact, rocking chairs have been swaying their way into our hearts since the early 18th century in North America, and they've evolved through various designs, from Windsor to Shaker styles, all the way to the modern Yacht Club Rocking Chair by Trex® Outdoor Furniture™ – a true rocking representation of classic meets contemporary!
Source => trexfurniture.com

2. Jefferson's Swivel-tastic Invention

Who says founding fathers can't have some fun while drafting monumental documents? Thomas Jefferson decided to add some spin to his serious work with an invention that made history roll in a new direction: Jefferson modified the Windsor chair by adding an iron spindle and rollers from window sash pulleys, allowing it to swivel, and even took his creation back to his Virginia plantation. Now housed at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, this swivel-tastic chair also boasts bamboo legs and a writing surface on one arm for all your spinning Declaration of Independence needs!
Source => workplaceinsight.net

3. Holy High Seats of Religion

Be it the Iron Throne or the Oval Office, everyone jostles to sit atop the ultimate seat of power, but did you know that religious folk were the original 'Chair-men' of the board? Here comes the scoop: chairs have been entwined with religious authority for ages, as the Jewish "chair of Moses" was for priests' teachings, and in Catholicism, the bishop's "cathedra" symbolizes his influence over the diocese, while the priest's chair marks his ceremonial role. These holy high seats do more than rest backsides; they bear the weight of spiritual leadership in their plush cushioning.
Source => thecompassnews.org

4. Perils of Ill-Designed Office Chairs

Whoever said "sitting is the new smoking" must have been sitting on a pretty uncomfortable chair: An ill-designed office chair may cause poor blood circulation, decreased concentration, increased fatigue, digestive problems, and contribute to weight gain, back, neck, and shoulder pain. In fact, a study by the American College of Sports Medicine revealed men who spent over 23 hours per week sitting faced a 64% greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Moral of the story: choose your perch with caution!
Source => karo.co.za

Inflatable Chairs: Stylish & Mobile

5. Inflatable Chairs: Stylish & Mobile

Before couch potatoes were lounging on clouds of air, the US military was blowing up buildings... with style: The first mass-produced inflatable chair, called Blow, debuted in the 1960s as part of the Italian Anti-Design movement – serving as fashionable, mobile seating for city dwellers and wanderers alike.
Source => apartmenttherapy.com

6. Papasan & Mamasan: Cozy Asian Origins

You may think it's called the papasan chair because it sounds like a laid-back, swiveling father figure: but actually, these snuggly round chairs have adjustable angles and cozy velveteen cotton-filled cushions, and were first toted back to the Western world by American WWII servicemen after experiencing their supreme relaxation throughout Asia. Meanwhile, the mamasan chair – a double-sized version – had been adding some much-needed wiggle room in the far east even before the papasan scored its first spin on the American dream.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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