F:1956.22

Provenance: Tuam district, Co. Galway. Maker: Unknown.

The individual parts of the Sligo / Tuam chairs are secured together using tightfitting mortice and tenon joints.

A mortice, (a small slot) is cut into one element of the chair. A tenon (a narrow projection) is cut into the element that joins to it. The tenon fits tightly into or through the mortice.

The through tenons are made even more tightly fitting by hammering small wedges into the width of the tenon.
The wood grain of the wedge is in the opposite direction to the grain of the tenon. These contrasting wood grains bring a decorative element to the joint. 
 
This chair was presented to the National Museum of Ireland by the Irish Folklore Commission (Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann) in 1953.