De middeleeuwse stoel van Sint-Lutgardis in Borgloon : een stand van zaken
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Authors
Reyniers, Jeroen
Discipline
Arts
Subject
Saint Lutgardis
Medieval furniture
Borgloon
St Odulphus church
Abbey of Nonnemielen
Convent of St Catherine
Sint-Truiden
fertility
Audience
Scientific
Date
2024-01Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
An ancient chair is displayed to churchgoers at St. Odulphus Church in Borgloon, Belgium. This chair is considered the oldest piece of seating furniture in Belgium, dating back to around 1200. It is a relic because it is believed to have been used by Saint Lutgardis of Tongeren (1182-1246) when she was a nun at the St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sint-Truiden. The chair has survived many wars and difficult times in the Sint-Truiden area, leading it to end up in various places over the years. Today, the chair is primarily known as a fertility object. Frequently, (young) women with an unfulfilled desire to have children sit on it and ask Saint Lutgardis for help. The article provides an update on the research of this object, briefly touching on the chair’s history and the tradition of longing for parenthood. A bibliography is included, summarizing previous research and the chair’s recognition through various channels.
Citation
Reyniers, Jeroen. “De middeleeuwse stoel van Sint-Lutgardis in Borgloon : een stand van zaken”, Volkskunde: tijdschrift over de cultuur van het dagelijks leven, Vol. 125, Issue 1 (2024): 103-106
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Yes
Language
nld