Set of three chairs used by Barack Obama, Shimon Peres, and Benjamin Netanyahu during a state dinner held at the Israeli president’s residence in Jerusalem on March 21, 2013. The ornate white wooden chairs measure 42″ tall and feature white leather upholstery for both the elaborately carved back and seat cushions. Each is marked on the back near the bottom to identify which leader sat in it. Expected general wear from use, otherwise overall fine condition. Accompanied by a photocopy of a letter from the furniture rental facility hired to outfit the dinner, describing the event and how the chairs were marked; also includes images of Obama at his chair during the dinner.
This was a tremendously important historical event as it came during President Obama’s first visit to Israel, the United States’ most reliable ally in the turbulent region. At the dinner, President Shimon Peres of Israel presented Obama with the Presidential Medal of Distinction for his ‘unique contribution to the security of the State of Israel.’ This gesture marked the first time that an Israeli president bestowed an honorary decoration upon the sitting president of the United States, reinforcing ties between the countries. During the trip, President Obama mended his sometimes volatile relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu and offered assurance that his administration remained committed to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power. The chairs from this internationally significant occasion represent once-in-a-generation pieces of history—a history still unfolding. These chairs are visible on the left side of this video of the event on the WhiteHouse.gov website. RR Auction COA.
