Indian Carpenter’s Custom Chairs to Grace Pope Francis’ Singapore Visit

FDT Bureau

During his visit to Singapore, Pope Francis reportedly used two custom-made chairs crafted by an Indian-born carpenter for his inter-religious dialogue sessions. These unique chairs were the work of 44-year-old Govindharaj Muthiah, who dedicated himself to woodworking full-time in 2019. According to a reports, Muthiah was surprised and thrilled when he received a call from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore at the end of July, requesting his craftsmanship for this prestigious project.

Although Muthiah managed to complete the 100 per cent handmade chairs within just a month, the significance of the commission had not fully sunk in. Muthiah was taken aback when he learned that the chairs were intended for the Pope. The conversation began with a routine inquiry about his ability to craft a chair, but took a momentous turn when he was informed it was for Pope Francis. For this special occasion, Muthiah, repurposed leftover wood from temples and mosques that had recently undergone renovations. He aimed for a vintage design reminiscent of 18th-century furniture. The headboard of one chair features a design inspired by the historic Novena Church in Singapore, while the other chair incorporates elements from the Basilica of San Jose de Flores in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis’ birthplace. Additionally, the second chair includes a B-shaped armrest as a nod to the Pope’s family name, Bergoglio.

Pope Francis had been in Singapore from September 11 to 13, as part of his extensive 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region, which also includes stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore. This trip marked his longest journey away from the Vatican since his appointment as head of the Catholic Church in 2013.