curule chair

Chair used by the ‘curule’ magistrates (consuls, praetors, aediles) and later by the emperors in ancient Rome. It was probably Etruscan in origin, and was made like a folding stool with curved legs and no back. It was usually inlaid with ivory or precious metals.

The epithet ‘curulis’ was derived from currus (Latin ‘chariot’), and it is believed that the curule chair was originally placed in the magistrate's chariot.