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Chair

In the 1873 Mold Eisteddfod, Hwfa Môn (Rowland Williams) won the chair. He won several eisteddfod chairs and crowns as well as adjudicating. He was known for his great speeches and was elected Archdruid (the head druid of the Gorsedd of the Bards) from 1895 until his death in 1905.
The chair is an early example of what became a popular style in bardic chairs. It features a heraldic dragon, harp, mistletoe, and oak leaves with acorns. Carved inscriptions give the name of the winner and location and include the traditional mottoes: ‘Goreu Arv: Arv Dysg’; ‘Yn Nawdd Duw a’i Hedd’; ‘Iaith Enaid ar ei Thannau’; and the Gorsedd motto: ‘Y Gwir yn Erbyn y Byd’ meaning 'the truth against the world'. This chair features the Nod Cyfrin (Mystic Mark or Mark of the Ray of Light), a symbol devised by Iolo Morganwg. It was first seen on the proclamation scroll in Cardiff in 1833. By 1850 it appeared on Gorsedd banners and from around 1860 on members' certificates.

Chair
Image: © Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
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Collection Area

Social & Cultural History

Item Number

28.592.1

Acquisition

Bequest

Measurements

Techniques

carved

Material

oak

Location

In store
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