At just 34 inches tall, 18 inches wide, 18 inches deep, this tatty old chair isn’t much to look at. And if it wasn’t for the bold inscriptions, it would be impossible to fathom why it’s been purchased for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The chair, once owned by JK Rowling, is actually a piece of literary history, having been used by the author as she wrote the first two titles in the blockbuster Harry Potter series. Rowling herself has hand-painted and signed the chair, and has added a signed letter “by Owl Post” describing its history and provenance.
According to the auctioneer, the simple chair is refinished oak with light surface wear and scuff marks that come with age and usage, as well as a chip to one front leg and joints separating. Manufacturer's initials are printed on the seat, hidden under removable cushion.During her days as an impoverished single mother in Edinburgh, JK Rowling was given a free set of four chairs for her council flat-a social housing unit provided by the British government. This set included a standard 1930's era oak chair with a replacement burlap seat decorated with a red thistle. The latter being one of the more comfortable chairs amongst the bunch, she favoured it to sit in whilst writing the first drafts of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
On the stiles and splats, in gold and rose colours: "You may not / find me pretty ~ / but don't judge / on what you see."
Rowling signed the backrest in the gold and rose paints. Then along the apron of the seat: "I wrote / Harry Potter / while sitting / on this chair."
"Gryffindor" is painted on the cross stretcher below, which readers will recognise as the house Harry and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were sorted into upon arriving at Hogwarts. Lightning bolts, like Harry's famous scar, don the tops of the front legs in gold and green. Adding to the handmade detail, gold wave lines decorate the top of the wood surrounding the seat cushion, with gold paint staining one rail where the excess dripped down.
"Dear new-owner-of-my-chair~I was given four mismatched dining room chairs in 1995 and this was the comfiest one, which is why it ended up stationed permanently in front of my typewriter, supporting me while I typed out ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’.
My nostalgic side is quite sad to see it go, but my back isn’t.
J.K. Rowling"