Long history of Eisteddfod chair

The chair was made from wood from the site of the 2009 eisteddfod

Not just anyone can sit in the National Eisteddfod chair.

To win the highly-coveted prize, bards have to impress judges with their poetry.

The chair is awarded annually at Wales' most important cultural festival, although judges decided no competitors were worthy of the 2009 prize.

Now a major book and exhibition in Newton House, Dinefwr Park, Carmarthenshire will explore the history of the chair.

The Chronicle of the Princes recorded that the chairs were awarded to the winners of bardic and musical competitions at Cardigan Castle by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Dinefwr in 1176.

The word eisteddfod is derived from the Welsh word eistedd, meaning to sit, while bod means to be.

Richard Bebb, a furniture historian and co-author of The Bardic Chair, a bilingual account of the history of the chair, said that while eisteddfodau - and the awarding of chairs - were not a regular occurence, there is evidence that they were held intermittently over the years.

'Assemblies of rhymers'

After Cardigan Castle, "there was another event held in 1451 under Grufudd ap Thomas of Dinefwr."

"Then there were a couple in the 16th centuries. Chairs are mentioned with those."

"During the 17th and 18th Centuries, poets used to meet in taverns and have 'assemblies of rhymers'.

The Carmarthen Eisteddfod chair, which dates from 1819

"They kept the tradition alive. Even in those, the winner had a chair."

The earliest known chair made specifically for an Eisteddfod was in 1819 in Carmarthen.

It was made by David Morley, a prominent Carmarthen cabinet maker, and features as one of a wide exhibition of chairs at Newton House, Carmarthenshire.

The historian said that the chair was a prized award due to its perceived value.

"If you go back to the medieval period, the chair was a symbol of status. There were chairs for mayors, there were thrones."

"The top people had chairs. Court poets were always entitled to chairs."

"Most people sat on stools. Up until the 1700s, armchairs were extremely rare."

Mr Bebb said that his research showed that while there were assemblies of poets around Europe, particularly during the medieval period, the awarding of a chair was unique to Wales.

There is a rich furniture tradition in Wales Richard Bebb, historian

"Thousands and thousands of these chairs were made. What they required were competent carpenters.

"There is a rich furniture tradition in Wales."

After the National Eisteddfod was introduced during the 19th century, grand chairs - usually made out of oak and distinguished by their intricate and ornate carving - were produced.

Each chair, ultimately kept by the recipient, was marked with the location and the date of the Eisteddfod.

During the heyday of eisteddfodau - between the late 19th to early 20th Century - as many as 450 annual events took place.

Today the awarding of the chair remains the highlight of the National Eisteddfod.

The 2009 chair was designed and created by Dilwyn Jones of Celfi Derw in Maerdy and he used wood from the Rhiwlas site at Bala where the National Eisteddfod was held.

The Eisteddfod chair exhibition runs until 2 November at Newton House, Dinefwr Park, Carmarthenshire.

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