STRUCTURAL FEATURES: The nomenclature of this stout chair is derived from the Dutch word ‘burgemeester’, translating into ‘mayor’. While this name comes about only in the 19th century AD, suggesting that such forms of seating are made for those in power, furniture makers in the Indian subcontinent and the East Indies – in Indonesia, South India and Sri Lanka -- are making this type of chair right from the late-1600s under the Dutch East India Company (1602-1799) or VOC [VereenigdeOost-IndischeCompagnie]. Popularly known as round chairs because of their structure, they are initially either used as single, standalone pieces or in sets of four or six. The use of these chairs in sets perhaps indicates that they were not always suggestive of rank.

STYLISTIC FEATURES: The centre of the rounded toprail of the chair has a curved protrusion while the finials are devoid of heavy ornamental carvings, an otherwise common stylistic element of such chairs. The concave open back has two rows of evenly spaced twist-turned carved spindles. The circular caned seat above a skirting frieze stands on six cabriole legs.