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Modeled on late medieval bishop’s chair. Carved Viking animal heads project forward from arms and to side from back. All panels filled with representational or decorative carving in style of period. Gold and green paint or dye antiqued by heating.

Made by Erik Kristian Johnsen (1863-1923), born in Stavanger, Norway to Erik Johnsen and Else Kristine (Finkelsen) Johnsen. Immigrated to the U.S. with his wife, Amunda Jorgien Sorensen, a deaconess from Telemark, in 1892. Johnsen became professor of theology at Red Wing Seminary, 1892-1897, then professor of theology at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Most of his carvings were done in the attic of his house on the campus of Luther Seminary and at his summer home near Rice Lake, Wisconsin.