Roman folding chair

[richsc]

I was at the opening of the new antiquities dealer in DC, SandsofTime, and in the window was what the owner (Sue McGovern) described as a Roman army camp stool, excavated from a German fort (she did not recall the name offhand but will get that from me). Sue said this pattern is repeated in all other stools she is aware of, even if made from bronze rather than iron as this one is. Is this correct? I noted the odd "U" shape uprights that seem to have no function and make it weaker: is this typical?<br>
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img.photobucket.com/album...ChairD.jpg<br>
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<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Richsc/RomanChairD.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
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I am hoping that it will be fairly straightforward for a good iron worker to copy this.<br>
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BTW, she called it a curule chair, to her meaning "chariot". Is this the etymology? <p>Legio XX <br>
Caupona Asellinae</p><i></i>