The Concept of Iron Chair Torture

 The iron chair, a torture device that has several variants according to its origin and use throughout history. It is also known as the Chinese torture chair or torture chair. The concept of "Torture" iron chair originated in the European Middle Ages, although it was also used worldwide with different variations. This torture device that was added to the dungeons in the Middle Ages. He experienced his peak in popularity in Europe.

During the Middle Ages, the iron chair was used as a punishment. Crimes punishable by the iron chair include adultery, witchcraft, murder, etc. The instrument was used until the end of the 19th century in Europe. In all cases, the victim was sat on several strips or brass plates and placed on an open flame and slowly roasted alive. "In other variations, the victim was tied to an iron chair and then slowly pushed her closer and closer to a burning fire."

The iron chair has many different variations depending on its location, but consisted of 500-1500 spikes covering the entire chair with a hole in the seat to place under fire and coal. Another variation of the iron chair was called the Chinese torture chair because it was a very common torture technique in China. Although the Chinese torture chair is slightly different, it was used in the same psychological way as the European version. The Chinese torture chair was used between 1701 and 1900 in China and was "... "made of wood with 12 steel sheets on the arms, backrest, footrests and seat".

According to scientists, this device was used with convicted or suspected people because it instilled fear in the person. It was used to extract confessions from people watching them torture another. If that failed, the person himself had to suffer too. The Iron Chair"... resides mainly in the psychological fear it causes in the victim" (Medieval). The iron chair was particularly unique because it was based on psychological effects rather than physical, unlike many other instruments of torture. Physically, this instrument pierces the skin while the person is strapped firmly to the chair. If they don't cooperate, the person is bound harder, sinking the thorns deeper into their flesh. The large hole at the bottom of the seat was made to place coal and fire underneath to burn the victims' lower bodies and slowly burn them alive. This torture technique did not necessarily cause death itself, it was usually followed by an infection after the person was freed. Death was far from instantaneous with the iron chair.

Science Museum, London.